OTTAWA: Canada’s government on Thursday boosted a proposed weekly payout for the jobless that would replace emergency COVID-19 income support that ends this weekend, a move that looks set to help the ruling Liberals win a parliamentary confidence vote.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is seeking the support of at least one opposition party on a sweeping agenda to battle COVID-19, help those hurt by it, and foster economic growth.
Two of the three other parties in Parliament signaled they would vote against the plan. But the left-leaning New Democrats, which had demanded the increased payout, indicated they could now well support Trudeau.
“They gave us most of what we asked for,” said George Soule, spokesman for party leader Jagmeet Singh, adding the New Democrats were still negotiating with the government over the…