Feds to give $1.5B to help Canadians in sectors hit hard by pandemic shutdowns

The federal government is putting $1.5 billion toward job-training support to help Canadian industries hit hard by COVID-19.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the funding will bolster access to skills training and employment services to help laid-off workers in the construction, transportation and hospitality sectors.

The money comes on the heels of a new survey by Statistics Canada, which finds nearly one-third of businesses don’t know how long they can keep going under existing conditions.

About 40 per cent of businesses have laid off staff since March.

Nearly one in five say they will have to take drastic action in less than six months if cash flow does not improve.