“There are groups of people who aren’t benefiting from the Canada Emergency Response Benefit who probably should,” Trudeau said this morning. “We’re looking carefully at how we can increase their pay a little bit so that they do better off remaining at work, rather than going off work and receiving the emergency response benefit.”

Who may qualify for the expanded benefits

Trudeau is suggesting that federal assistance will be made available to Canadians who still have jobs but are working 10 hours of work or less due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This will likely include the following workers:

  • gig economy workers;
  • contract workers; and
  • individuals earning less income than the amount through the CERB, such as long-term care workers.

Employment lawyer explains where federal government is failing Canadians

This adjustment may address the desperate need for individuals who are not earning enough income to make ends meet, but can’t qualify for assistance due to the requirement that they first have no income.

Our employment law firm has spoken to hundreds of individuals whose compensation has been reduced to almost nothing, but cannot qualify for government assistance. There is no rationale for the government to provide assistance for those who have ceased earning income, but not provide assistance to those who have lost 95% of it.

The CERB discourages individuals from working and hurts businesses who wish to continue employing people. Measures are needed to address the following individuals:

  • Employees whose salary has been reduced significantly;
  • Self-employed individuals earning substantially less than usual;
  • Those who cannot now find employment due to the virus; and
  • Individuals whose EI benefits run out in the coming weeks, but cannot re-enter the workforce either because of economic or health related reasons.