As Canada returns to pre-pandemic employment, and most provinces and territories have successfully curbed the out-of-control spread of COVID-19 and its variants, the federal government is starting to wind down programs such as the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB).
CERB ensured that workers laid off from their jobs due to COVID-19 enforced lockdowns received a weekly payment of $500 per week.
However, the fourth wave caused by the Delta variant demonstrated that there may still be a need to lock down certain economic sectors to contain particular outbreaks and protect the integrity of local healthcare infrastructure.
The federal government has introduced new legislation for a Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit to protect Canadian workers. This new benefit would provide income support to workers whose employment is interrupted by a specific government-imposed public health lockdown.
Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit details
- $300 a week.
- Strictly available to workers whose work interruption is a direct result of a government-imposed public health lockdown.
- Available until May 7, 2022, with retroactive application to Oct. 24, 2021, should the situation warrant it.
- Accessible for the entire duration of a government-imposed public health lockdown (until May 7, 2022).
- Available to workers who are ineligible for Employment Insurance (EI) and eligible for EI, as long as they are not paid benefits through EI for the same period.
The Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit will not cover the loss of income or employment due to an employee's refusal to be vaccinated.