Kahnawake Economic Relief Measures (KERM) Fund mandate ends

05/18/2022

The Mohawk Council of Kahnaw�:ke (MCK) wishes to advise the community that the Council of Chiefs passed a Mohawk Council of Kahnaw�:ke Directive at Monday�s duly-convened Council Meeting that has officially ended the mandate of the Kahnaw�:ke Economic Relief Measures (KERM) Fund.

The KERM, as it was commonly known, was created on March 19, 2020, to provide funding to community members impacted by COVID-19 in relation to their employment or the operation, and to support workers and businesses who were most vulnerable to the economic interruption as a result of COVID-19-related emergency measures in the community. Its initial mandate was extended on several occasions due to the ongoing nature of the pandemic.

The KERM was co-developed by the MCK, Tewatohnhi�saktha, and the MCK�s Client-Based Services (through its Social Assistance department). It was a critical component in the mitigation of the pandemic. Upon its establishment, the original KERM budget was set at $9 million. Of that, $4 to $6 million was set aside for Income Security Funding; $2.5 million was allocated to Business Interruption Funding, and $500,000 was designated for Basic Needs/Essentials Grants & Subsidies.

Significantly, Mohawk Online contributed a dividend of $1 million, followed by a second dividend of $3 million. Additionally, the Department of Indigenous Services Canada contributed $3 million.

The total amount of funds allocated to the KERM Fund during its existence (including the Business Interruption Fund) was $17.5 million, with the total expenditure amounting to just under $15 million. The unused allocated funds will remain in the MCK�s general reserve.

Please note that, as the pandemic remains ongoing, those who do not have coverage for Medical Isolation Benefits due to COVID-19 will still be able to seek minimum income support through Social Assistance.

�We�d like to thank everyone who stepped up to ensure the needs of the community were met during one of the most challenging times in our history,� said Rats�nhaienhs Michael Delisle, Jr., who was a member of the KERM board of directors throughout its existence. �We were fortunate to withstand many of the economic hardships better than many other communities. Thanks to Tewatohnhi�saktha, Mohawk Online, and, especially, the staff of the Social Assistance department � who put in countless hours to ensure our workers and businesses were able to access benefits to keep them afloat during the pandemic.�