Ottawa extends pandemic support programs

December 20, 2021

The federal government has approved legislation to extend several support programs related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and introduce a new one for workers. The legislation was first introduced in late November.

With the passage of Bill C-2 yesterday, the Canada Recovery Hiring Program will be extended until May 7, 2022 for eligible employers with current revenue losses above 10 per cent; the subsidy rate will be boosted to 50 per cent.

“This will encourage businesses to hire back workers, increase workers’ hours and create new jobs,” says Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland.

Subsidies under the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) will also be extended until May 7.

The Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB) and Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) have also been extended until May 7, 2022, and the maximum duration of benefits has been increased by two weeks. This lengthens the caregiving benefit from 42 to 44 weeks and the sickness benefit from four to six weeks.

These programs replaced the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB).

“Eligible entities under these rules would need to demonstrate a revenue decline over the course of 12 months of the pandemic, as well as a current-month revenue decline. In addition, organizations subject to a qualifying public health restriction would be eligible for support, if they have one or more locations subject to a public health restriction lasting for at least seven days that requires them to cease some or all of their activities,” says the legislation.

Source: HR Reporter