Federal Government Introduces New Recovery Benefits Legislation

On the morning of September 24, 2020, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Chrystia Freeland, and the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough, announced the introduction of Bill C-2, to create the three new temporary Recovery Benefits, the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB), the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB), and the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB), (the “Recovery Benefits”).

The new legislation also proposes changes to the EI program, including easing eligibility rules. These EI program changes, along with the three Recovery Benefits, would come into effect on September 27, 2020, and are intended to provide a bridge for Canadians who have been receiving the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) which will be ending on September 26, 2020.

Bill C-2 also includes proposed amendments to the Canada Labour Code “to ensure that federally regulated employees have access to job-protected leave to ensure they can avail themselves of these Benefits.”

The proposed changes to the EI program and the new Recovery Benefits were first announced on August 20, 2020, and covered in our August 24, 2020, Bulletin. Based on today’s news release there have been some changes from the initial announcement made on August 20, 2020, including an increase of the minimum EI benefit to $500 per week (previously $400 per week) and the CRB to $500 per week (previously $400 per week).

View the full September 24, 2020, news release here.

We will provide updates on these proposed changes as more information becomes available.

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