On October 21, 2021, the Government of Canada announced that they would introduce legislation for a new Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit (“CWLB”). If this legislation is passed, the new CWLB would provide income support to workers whose employment may be interrupted by government-imposed public health lockdown restrictions and who are consequently unable to work due to those restrictions. A worker can get the CWLB regardless of whether or not they are eligible for Employment Insurance (“EI”), however, they can’t get the benefit if they are already receiving EI for the same period.
The new CWLB would provide eligible individuals with $300 a week and would be accessible for the entire duration of a government-imposed public health lockdown up until May 7, 2022, which is the date that the benefit would be set to expire.
The federal government is expected to release further details on this proposed benefit in the coming weeks. As always, we will continue tracking COVID-19 related developments affecting employers and will post further updates as they become available 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.