On May 8, 2020, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that the federal government will extend the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (“CEWS”) beyond June 2020 (for an overview of the CEWS, please read our recent article, and watch our FAQ video on the CEWS).
The CEWS is being extended to encourage more employers to recall workers from layoff, or rehire staff, in an effort to “help kickstart” the gradual reopening of the economy. The announcement comes in the face of record-high job losses, with the Canadian economy having lost approximately three million jobs since March and millions of other employees across Canada having significantly reduced income.
The federal government will provide details on how the CEWS is being extended next week. We will provide prompt updates on the changes to the CEWS on this Resource Centre to keep you In the Know.
This blog is provided as an information service and summary of workplace legal issues. This information is not intended as legal advice.