Federal announced changes (April 1)¶

• Canada Emergency Response Benefits | official website
• Link to CERB Announcement
• Link to federal income supports announcement
• Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) full analysis
• CUPE's brief summary of federal changes
• A guide on applying for benefits from the federal government amid COVID-19 (Created by Dr. Jennifer Robson as an open-source guide)

Canada Emergency Response Benefit¶

If a member has lost income because of COVID-19, the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) will provide you with temporary income support.

• The CERB will provide you with $500 a week for up to 16 weeks.
• The members can also earn up to $1000 a month while receiving CERB.

• Please refer to the official CERB website for full information.

The Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) is a benefit that will provide $2,000 a month for up to four months for workers who lose their income as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This benefit will automatically upgrade all EI applications filed since March 15, 2020.

Additional information includes:¶

• you can earn up to $1000 per 4 week period if you are eligible and if you received at least 1 week of EI benefits after December 29th, 2019.
• If you earn money you get to keep it and the whole CERB amount, but if you earn more than $1000 in one period, you cannot apply for the next period of CERB.

• Seasonal workers who have exhausted their EI benefits are also eligible for CERB.

• Federal government announcement

• See guidance for union activists dealing with potential layoff.

Overview of EI Changes¶

1. Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) announced March, 25.
2. $305 million for a new “distinction-based” Indigenous Community Support Fund
3. $157.5 million for the Reaching Home Program to address homelessness

4. $50 million in funding for women’s shelters and sexual assault centres

5. Waiving of interest on Canada Student Loan payments for six months

6. Increase to the Canada Childcare Benefit to be rolled out in the coming months
7. The one-week waiting period for Employment Insurance (EI) sickness benefits is waived for a minimum of six months for workers in imposed quarantine, or those who have been directed to self-isolate.
8. Extending income tax deadlines The deadline for individuals to file their taxes is extended to June 1. Individuals can defer the payment of any income tax amounts owing Until after August 31, 2020. No interest or penalty will accumulate on the amounts owing.
9. The medical certificate requirement to access EI sickness benefits is also waived.

Ontario Changes¶

1. Job-protected, but unpaid, leaves for individuals who self-isolate/self-quarantine or are required to remain at home to care for children due to school/daycare closures related to COVID-19. A “job-protected” leave is a leave which an employer is obliged to grant, and cannot use to terminate a worker’s employment.
2. Individuals who are immune-compromised will be able to remain at home on a job- protected leave. Page 3 of 93. Workers will NOT be required to present a medical certificate to take advantage of these leaves. Employer medical certificate requirements for other sick leave is unaffected.
3. Workers will be required to notify their employers as soon as possible if they need to take advantage of the new job-protected leaves.
4. The new provisions will not be time limited. Some other jurisdictions have introduced time limited actions which will have to be renewed if the crisis persists longer than contemplated. This will not be the case in Ontario.

These changes will apply to provincially regulated workplaces but not to federally regulated workplaces such as airlines, airports and ports.