Taking stock: Quick reference guide for government initiatives
*Flowchart below last updated June 2, 2020 (Originally published April 14, 2020)
With the passing of Bill C-14, the COVID-19 Emergency Response Act, No. 2 on April 11, 2020, the federal government has now laid a legislative foundation for various initiatives to assist employers and employees who are affected by COVID-19. The main measures include:
- The new Canada Emergency Response Benefit (“CERB”)
- The new Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (“CEWS”), a 75% wage subsidy for eligible employers for the 12-week period beginning March 15, 2020
- The new 10% Temporary Wage Subsidy for employers
- Enhanced access to Employment Insurance (“EI”) benefits, including streamlining applications to the EI work-sharing program
Details on emergency response measures have shifted over the past few weeks, as they have evolved in response to our ever-changing situation. We expect this evolution will continue in many respects; notably, we are still awaiting regulations to further clarify some details related to CERB and CEWS.
However, given that the legislation now appears to be place, it seems an opportune moment for a fresh look at the current landscape of options. Recognizing it is a busy time, it is our pleasure to provide a dynamic summary of the mutual interactions between CERB, CEWS, EI and the 10% wage subsidy. We trust this will serve as a helpful reference point when seeking employment and tax advice to find the best options in the circumstances.
*Link to printable PDF version here.
This article is provided for general information only. If you have any questions about the above, please contact a member of our Labour and Employment group.
Click here to subscribe to Stewart McKelvey Thought Leadership articles and updates.
Archive
By Nancy Rubin, K.C. and Lauren Agnew The long-awaited Green Choice Program Regulations (N.S. Reg. 155/2023) were released by the provincial government on September 8, 2023, offering some clarity into the practical implementation of Nova…
Read MoreBy Koren Thomson, John Samms, and Matthew Raske The Newfoundland and Labrador Court of Appeal has held that the Information and Privacy Commissioner for this province (the “Commissioner”) does not have the authority to order…
Read MoreBy Perlene Morrison, K.C. Municipalities are required to pass code of conduct bylaws in accordance with section 107 of the Municipal Government Act (the “MGA”). Subsection 107(1) of the MGA specifically states that a municipality’s…
Read MoreBy Sheila Mecking and Kathleen Starke On August 23, 2023, the Ontario Superior Court (“ONSC”) upheld a complaints decision which ordered a psychologist to complete a continuing education or remedial program regarding professionalism in public…
Read MoreBy Dante Manna As we advised in a previous podcast, all federal employers with at least ten employees[1] have been subject to the Pay Equity Act [2] (“PEA”) and Pay Equity Regulations [3] (“Regulations”) since…
Read MoreBy Nancy Rubin, K.C. Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) recently published a draft of the Clean Electricity Regulations (CER). The proposed Regulations work toward achieving a net-zero electricity-generating sector, helping Canada become a net-zero…
Read MoreBy Stephen Penney & Matthew Raske In the recent decision Index Investment Inc. v. Paradise (Town), 2023 NLSC 112, the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador validated the Town of Paradise’s decision to rezone lands…
Read MoreBy Sara Espinal Henao Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (“IRCC”) has announced a promising new temporary measure that allows foreign workers to study for a longer duration without a study permit, opening the door for…
Read MoreBy Brendan Sheridan The Government of Canada recently announced a number of aggressive immigration measures to help attract top talent to Canada in high-growth industries in an effort to fuel innovation and drive emerging technologies.…
Read MoreBy Daniela Bassan, K.C. All stakeholders in the legal profession, including litigators, have a shared interest in promoting environmental, social, and governance (ESG) pathways towards building a greener society. It is crucial for litigators to…
Read More