COVID-19 Update – Expansion to the Canada Emergency Response Benefit

During his daily address from Rideau Cottage this morning, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced an expansion to the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) as well as a planned “wage boost” for essential workers.

Wage Boost

The federal government announced that it will be working with the provinces and territories to implement a new transfer, which would enable the provinces and territories to temporarily top up the pay of essential workers earning less than $2,500 per month.

The wage boost responds to the reality that a large number of essential workers are earning less than they would if they received the CERB. Essential workers will include those in hospitals and long term care facilities, as well as those ensuring the integrity of the food supply or providing essential retail services. The Prime Minister stated that he would be speaking with premiers and territorial leaders about implementation tomorrow evening.

Expansion of CERB

Eligibility rules for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) will be expanded to include:

• • Individuals making $1,000 or less/month;
  • Individuals who have exhausted their EI benefits; and
  • Seasonal workers who have exhausted their EI benefits and will be unable to undertake their usual seasonal work.

Today’s COVID-19 bulletin discusses the details of today’s announcement regarding the expansion to the CERB as well as the planned wage boost for essential workers.

To read the April 15, 2020, information bulletin, please see the link below:

COVID-19 Update – April 15, 2020

 

For any questions on any information contained in today’s bulletin, please feel free to reach out to a member of our firm.

All our previous COVID-19 information bulletins can be found on Roper Greyell’s COVID-19 resource page.