Strict public health measures have been implemented to control the COVID-19 pandemic and prevent a health care system breakdown. Meanwhile, outstanding income support programs for individuals and businesses have become essential to prevent a recession from turning into a depression.

As we start lifting lockdown restrictions, can we envision the end of these support programs in the coming months? Under which conditions can we “disconnect” the Canadian economy from this life support? What will be the economic consequences if some programs are eliminated, curtailed or amended? It is difficult to answer those questions due to their complexity, resulting from the overlay of the four impacts we have just experienced in Canada, similar to other countries affected by the pandemic. We are actually facing four crises.

The second part of this article is available here.