Employers will no longer be able to count on the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (SSUC) or Canada’s Emergency Rent Subsidy as of this week, Canada’s Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland confirmed Thursday. For those who still have not found their jobs lost during the pandemic, this weekend also marks the end of the Canadian Economic Recovery Benefit (PCRE).
“We have recovered 100% of the jobs lost during the pandemic,” said both Minister Freeland and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, during a joint press briefing.
“Compare that to the United States, which only found 78% [des emplois] She said, adding that the Liberal promise to create a million jobs was, she said, achieved last month.
Since the economic recovery is well underway in the country in most sectors, a “new phase” begins on Saturday, October 23, in which federal emergency programs will be more targeted to sectors in need.
Existing programs, which provided financial assistance to businesses and income to workers during the pandemic, will then come to an end. So far, the minister said she was thinking about a possible extension. However, Canada’s economic recovery hiring program will be renewed until May 7, but will be half as generous.
Replacement programs
For sectors still struggling with public health measures, new programs will be put in place from October 24 by Ottawa, said Minister Freeland, without giving all the details.
For example, a “stimulus program for tourism and hospitality” has been announced for hoteliers, restaurateurs and travel agencies. These businesses will always get a wage subsidy and rent assistance. Those who have suffered a loss of 40% of their turnover will be compensated up to 40%, a rate that increases with the loss of income, up to 75%.
A second “hardest hit business stimulus package” must help businesses in any industry able to prove their pandemic losses. A wage and rent subsidy will be offered, the rate of which will vary from 10 to 50%, but only for employers who have experienced decreases in income of 50 to 75%.
As of March 7, 2022, the support offered by these two programs will halve. Companies will have to demonstrate to the government both their losses during the pandemic and the losses incurred during the current month.
The federal government will also have up its sleeve a business assistance program ready for possible new lockdowns in the country. “We will also keep our electoral promise to offer support to artists and technicians,” the minister also mentioned, without providing further details.
Workers
“More targeted” support will also replace the income assistance that was previously offered by the federal government to all workers affected by the pandemic. A new “Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit” is to provide $ 300 per week to workers affected by a new lockdown, including those who are not eligible for EI.
Other programs for workers will be extended until May 7, 2022: the Canadian Economic Stimulus Benefit for Caregivers and the Canadian Sickness Benefit for Economic Stimulus. The maximum duration of benefits is suddenly extended by two weeks.
Further details will follow.