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Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion: NFFN Appearance on Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, June 22, 2020

Table of contents

1. Speaking notes

Official title: Speaking notes for the Honourable Carla Qualtrough,Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion COVID-19 Measures: Impact for Canadians To the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance (NFFN) June 22, 2020

Check Against Delivery 2020 PA 000621

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I am pleased to be able to join you today to describe the emergency measures we’ve taken under my portfolio to support Canadians during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Accompanying me today are [name officials, if applicable].

I’d like to thank the Committee for its study of our pandemic response measures. Your attention to this issue is much appreciated.

The Canada Emergency Response Benefit Act

Committee members, I’m sure many of you are aware of how the Canada Emergency Response Benefit progressed but, let me take you back to March 2020 so I can explain what measures under ESDC’s portfolio were implemented to provide support Canadians during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As Canada’s economy closed – almost overnight – it quickly became clear that our regular safety net would not be able to handle the volume of people who were losing their jobs.

The Government acted fast. We passed the Canada Emergency Response Benefit Act and created the Canada Emergency Response Benefit or CERB for short.

For eligible workers, the benefit has been providing temporary income support of $500 a week for up to 16 weeks.

To give you a sense of the scope of the need, more than 8 million workers have been paid more than $40 billion in benefits.

Since the beginning of this crisis, the Government has been focused on providing Canadians with the support they need, as we work together to contain the spread of the virus and to keep Canadians safe.

With the initial CERB period coming to an end in early July, the Government of Canada announced on June 16 that the Canada Emergency Response Benefit would be extended by 8 weeks at the current rate of $500 per week

We know Canadians want to get back to work and that employers are working hard to find ways to bring them back safely.

For those who are in need of work now, we encourage them to consult the Job Bank, Canada’s national employment service tool that offers help with job searches.

For those unable to find work, the CERB will continue to be available from March 15, 2020 to October 3, 2020. In that time period, workers will now have 24 weeks of the CERB available to them.

We know this will go a long way for Canadians who simply don’t have a job to return to and for workers in industries that have not yet reopened.

Extending the CERB will give workers greater confidence that they will continue to get the support they need as they face ongoing disruptions to their work and home situations due to COVID-19.

Seniors

As we all know, seniors have been the most vulnerable during this pandemic.

The current situation brings terrible economic stress and anxiety to seniors.

This is why the Government introduced measures to help protect their financial security during these uncertain times.

Seniors who have stopped working because of COVID-19 are eligible for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB).

They can collect the CERB even if they receive the Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security or the Guaranteed Income Supplement, without interruption to these benefits.

And to help seniors cover increased costs caused by COVID-19, seniors eligible for the Old Age Security (OAS) pension will receive a one time tax-free payment of $300, with an additional $200 for seniors eligible for the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) and the Allowance.

Temporary Foreign Workers

Now a word about Temporary Foreign Workers.

First, I want to emphasize that the Government of Canada remains committed to protecting temporary foreign workers through this pandemic.

The reported cases of inappropriate behaviours and unsafe working conditions are completely unacceptable.

I am saddened to hear about workers who have become ill or passed away due to COVID-19.

My thoughts are with them and their families.

While we have taken important steps, we recognize there is more to do to protect temporary foreign workers in this country, and remain committed to looking at additional steps the Government can take in order to do so.

The Government will continue working with provinces and territories, who we share a responsibility with, as well as partner countries, employer associations, worker support organizations, and other stakeholders to address these serious concerns and ensure the safety and well-being of all workers in Canada.

Students and youth

A word now about students and youth.

We know this is a particularly difficult time for youth, students and recent graduates – many of whom were not eligible for the CERB.

That is why we announced, on April 22, $9 billion in comprehensive support for post-secondary students and recent graduates.

We passed an Act respecting Canada emergency student benefits on April 29 that enabled the four-month Canada Emergency Student Benefit. Students who are not eligible for the CERB could be eligible to receive $1,250 per month between then and August.

Eligible students with permanent disabilities and those with dependents under the age of 12 would receive an additional $750 per month.

This is why our measures didn’t just end with the CESB.

We allocated $80 million to the Student Work Placement Program to help up to 20,000 post-secondary students find internships and employment-related experience in their field of study.

We are also investing $153.7 million in the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy, which will create up to 6,000 new jobs for young people in areas of high demand, such as health and essential services.

We will expand the eligibility criteria for the Canada Student Loans Program for September, and double the amount of Canada Student Grants.

These new measures are in addition to those already implemented to suspend repayment of student and apprenticeship loans, and applicable interest, for six months.

We know that many young Canadians hope to work this summer and that they are seeking job opportunities in safe and healthy workplaces – so we made temporary changes to the Canada Summer Jobs program to better meet the challenges that face young people and employers.

Consequently, we have increased wage subsidies, expanded eligibility and have provided greater flexibility for employers.

Persons with disabilities

I also want to take a moment to speak to the Disability Inclusion part of my portfolio.

We recognize that some groups are significantly and disproportionately impacted by this pandemic.

In the spirit of “Nothing Without Us” and the Accessible Canada Act, and to support Canadians with disabilities, we established the COVID-19 Disability Advisory Group. This Group has been offering advice to the government on the real-time, lived experiences of persons with disabilities during this crisis.

Thanks in part to the Group’s advice, we recognized that persons with disabilities needed extra financial support during this crisis. On June 5th, the Prime Minister announced that those who are certificate holders of the Disability Tax Credit as of June 1, 2020 would receive a one-time payment of $600.

Conclusion

Mr. Chair, these combined measures – for workers, students, youth and persons with disabilities – have been necessary to support Canadians during this crisis and have helped to stabilize the economy.

I’ll wrap up now, as I would like to hear your questions.

2. ESDC COVID response measures (announced)

Date: June 16, 2020 – 6:00pm

Measure

Waive the one - week waiting period for EI sickness: for workers in quarantine.

This measure came into force on March 15, 2020 and was overtaken by the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB).

Claimants are benefitting from the CERB rather than the waiver of the waiting period at the moment.

Approximately 527,000 Canadians have benefitted from this measure.

Target population

EI-eligible individuals who become ill with COVID-19

Cost

Up to $5M.

Measure

Working-Sharing Program: extending eligibility from 38 weeks to 76 weeks for employers affected by COVID-19 and other measures including:

This measure will provide income support to employees eligible for Employment Insurance who agree to reduce their normal working hours because of developments beyond the control of their employers.

Since the special measures were introduced, over 3,260 Work-Sharing agreements have been approved representing over 100,169 workers now supported by this benefit. The cost of these agreements is over $1.3 Billion.

Target population

Business.

Cost

$12M.

Will increase due to increased volumes.

Measure

Waive the requirement to provide a medical certificate to access EI sickness, family caregiving and compassionate care benefits: those who are applying for Employment Insurance (EI) regular or sickness benefits, a medical certificate is no longer required for EI claims beginning March 15, 2020 or later.

This was put in place to reduce the burden on the healthcare system in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. New claimants for family caregiving and compassionate care benefits are relieved from the requirement to provide a medical certificate. Data is not available on the take-up of this measure.

Target population

EI-eligible individuals.

Cost

$0

Measure

Changes to EI for self-employed fish harvesters and sharespersons: considering potential measures or changes to Employment Insurance (EI) that would allow self-employed fish harvesters and sharespersons to access EI benefits on the basis of insurable earnings from previous seasons (winter and summer claims). More details will be available soon.

The details of this measure have not been finalized and it has not yet been implemented.

Target population

EI-eligible individuals.

Cost

TBD.

Measure

Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB): provides a taxable benefit of $2,000 every 4 weeks for up to 24 weeks (original 16 plus 8 additional announced June 16th) to eligible workers aged 15 and older residing in Canada who have stopped working for reasons related to COVID-19 and who do not have more than $1000 in employment or self-employment income for 14 or more consecutive days within their first four-week period and for the entire 4 weeks of their subsequent periods.  Individuals eligible for Employment Insurance regular or sickness benefits as of March 15th 2020 or who have exhausted their Employment insurance regular or fishing benefits as of December 29th 2019 are also eligible.

As of June 17th, 2020, 8.01 million individuals have benefited from the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB). The total dollar value of CERB benefits paid as of this date is $50.99B.

As part of the June 16th extension announcement, the government was clear that workers should be seeking work opportunities and/or return to work when their employer makes a request for their return provided they are able and it is reasonable to do so.

Target population

All Canadians.

Cost

Benefits:

Up to $60B.

(Public estimate from the Dept of Finance)

$50.99B benefits paid as of June 17, 2020.

Operating:

TBD.

Measure

Temporary Foreign Worker Program:

Key actions taken:

These measures ensure Canadians have first available opportunity at jobs and that Service Canada is currently prioritizing occupations that directly support and ensure the safety of the Canadian food supply chain.

Target population

Current TFW eligible businesses.

Cost

-

Measure

Six-month interest-free moratorium on repayment of Canada Student Loans: a pause on all Canada Student Loan repayments and interest accrual from March 30, 2020 to September 30, 2020, which applies to all Canada Student Loan and Canada Apprentice Loan borrowers.

This measure will provide relief to nearly 1 million CSLP borrowers in repayment.

Target population

Students.

Cost

$187.2M

Measure

Canada Emergency Student Benefit: provides financial support from May to August to post-secondary students and recent graduates who cannot find summer employment due to COVID-19 and who are not eligible for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit. Eligible students receive $1,250 per month, plus an additional $750 per month if they have dependants or a disability for a maximum of $2,000 per month. During the first four-week period, more than 532,000 students received $727 million in CESB.

Target population

Students.

Cost

Estimated:

$5.25B for benefits.

Operating costs:

TBD.

Measure

Double the Canada Student Grants: to up to $6,000 for full-time students and up to $3,600 for part-time students  in 2020-21.The Canada Student Grants for Students with Permanent Disabilities and Students with Dependants will also be doubled.

No student or spousal contribution expected in 2020-21, in recognition that many students and families will struggle to save for school this year.

Increase the maximum weekly amount of Canada Student Loans from $210 to $350 for the 2020-21 school year.

Taken together, these measures are expected to benefit more than 760,000 students in loan year 2020-21 at an estimated cost of $1.9 billion.

Target population

Students.

Cost:

$1,555.1M

$88.7M

$286.7M

Measure

Supporting Students and new grads affected by COVID-19:

40,500 youth and students are expected to benefit.

Target population

Students and youth.

Cost:

$153.7M

$80M

$15M

Measure

Changes to the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy's Canada Summer Jobs program: changes include increased wage subsidies, expanded eligibility and new flexibilities for employers, to ensure it can continue to support up to 70,000 student job placements in 2020-21. These new measures are being supported by a reallocation of existing resources.

70,000 are expected to benefit.

Target population

Youth.

Cost

No new funding

Measure

Delivering Essential Services to those in need: investment of $350 million to support vulnerable Canadians through charities and non-profit organizations that deliver essential services to those in need. The investment will flow through national organizations that have the ability to get funds quickly to local organizations that serve vulnerable populations. It will support a variety of activities.

Target population

Vulnerable Canadians.

Cost

$350M

Breakdown as follows:

Measure

Increasing the Canada Child Benefit: up to $300 per child through the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) for 2019-20. This will mean approximately $550 more for the average family.

This benefit was delivered as part of the scheduled CCB payment in May.

Target population

Families.

Cost

CRA/Finance.

Measure

Mortgage Support: homeowners facing financial hardship may be eligible for a mortgage payment deferral of up to six months. CMHC’s COVID19 Mortgage Deferral Program will be ongoing. Homeowners can apply any time during the outbreak. Homeowners must contact their lenders.

The deferral is an agreement between owner and the lender. Typically, the agreement indicates that home-owner and lender have agreed to pause or suspend mortgage payments for a certain amount of time. After the agreement ends, the mortgage payments return to normal and the deferred payments — including principal and accumulated interest – are added to the outstanding principal balance.

Target population

All Canadians.

Cost

CMHC.

Measure

Supporting people experiencing homelessness: support to people experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 outbreak by providing $157.5 million to the Reaching Home initiative.

The funding could be used for a range of needs such as purchasing beds and physical barriers for social distancing and securing accommodation to reduce overcrowding in shelters.

Reaching Home provides communities with significant flexibility in how funding can be used to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19. For example, communities can use Reaching Home funding to place individuals in temporary, transitional, or permanent housing accommodations for the purposes of self-isolation; purchase supplies and materials to reduce the risk of transmission, such as personal protective equipment; and, hire additional staff to support the response.

Target population

Vulnerable Canadians.

Cost

$157.5M.

$133.8M has already been allocated through the program’s various funding streams:

The remaining unallocated funding of $22.8M has been reserved to invest as needs emerge. The process to allocate this funding is underway.

Reaching Home funding is complemented by the Government’s investment of $40M to Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE), of which:

Measure

Special one-time tax-free payment for certified holders of the Disability Tax Credit: provides a special one-time-tax payment to individuals who are certificate holders of the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) as of June 1, 2020, as follows:

People who are eligible for this special payment will receive it automatically.

Target population

People with disabilities.

Cost

TBD.

Measure

Canada Student Service Grant: the new Canada Student Service Grant (CSSG), which will help students gain valuable work experience and skills while they help their communities during the COVID 19 pandemic. For students who choose to do national service and serve their communities, the new Canada Student Service Grant will provide up to $5,000 for their education in the fall.

Additional support for the Canada Service Corps to expand support for meaningful youth service projects that have positive impacts in communities across Canada, including increasing the number of microgrants from 1,800 to 15,000, and providing stipends to participants.

The launch of the "I Want to Help" Platform.

Cost

$900M

$2M.

Target population

Students.

Measure

Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA): agreement in principle with all provinces and territories to implement the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) for small businesses. This program will lower rent by 75 per cent for small businesses that have been affected by COVID-19.

The program will provide forgivable loans to qualifying commercial property owners to cover 50% of three monthly rent payments that are payable by eligible small business tenants who are experiencing financial hardship during April, May, and June.

The loans will be forgiven if the mortgaged property owner agrees to reduce the small business tenants’ rent by at least 75% under a rent forgiveness agreement, which will include a term not to evict the tenant while the agreement is in place. The small business tenant would cover the remainder, up to 25% of the rent.

Impacted small business tenants are businesses paying less than $50,000 per month in rent and who have temporarily ceased operations or have experienced at least a 70% drop in pre-COVID revenues. This support will also be available to non-profit and charitable organizations.

The program will accept applications until August 31.

Target population

Business.

Cost

CMHC.

Measure

Supporting organizations that provide essential services to seniors: funding of $9M through the New Horizons for Seniors Program to the United Way Centraide Canada to fund seniors’ serving organizations to adapt their frontline services to address the social inclusion, wellbeing and safety needs of vulnerable seniors in a safe and effective way during COVID-19.

Target population

Seniors.

Cost

$9M.

Measure

New flexibilities under the New Horizons for Seniors Program: the new flexibilities under the New Horizons for Seniors Program community stream allow organizations across the country to use previously approved project funding, approximately $50 million, for essential services to seniors affected by COVID-19.

Organizations that were approved for funding for 2019-20 can now use their funding for activities such as helping seniors stay connected to their community and family, and supporting the delivery of food and medication to self-isolated seniors at home.

Expanding the New Horizons for Seniors Program with an additional investment of $20 million to support organizations that offer community-based projects that reduce isolation, improve the quality of life of seniors, and help them maintain a social support network.

Target population

Seniors.

Cost

$0

$22.2M (includes $2.2M in operating).

Measure

One-time tax-free payment for seniors: providing additional financial support of $2.5 billion for a one-time tax-free payment of $300 for seniors eligible for the Old Age Security (OAS) pension, with an additional $200 for seniors eligible for the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) for a total of $500. Allowance recipients will also receive $500.This measure will help seniors cover increased costs caused by COVID-19.The payment will be issued the week of July 6.

It is estimated that approximately 6.7 million OAS pensioners will benefit from the $300 payment, and 2.2 million of those pensioners will receive the additional $200 payment due to their eligibility to the GIS.

Target population

Seniors.

Cost

$2.51B in benefits.

(Includes $10M in operating).

Measure

Extending GIS and Allowance payments: temporarily extending GIS and Allowance payments if seniors’ 2019 income information has not been received. This will ensure that the most vulnerable seniors continue to receive their benefits when they need them the most. Seniors are encouraged to submit their 2019 income information as soon as possible and no later than by October 1, 2020.

Target population

Seniors.

Cost

$0

3. Questions and answers

Date: June 19, 2020 – 1:00pm

Official title: COVID-19 economic response plan: support for Canadians and business

Hot Topics

1. Canada Emergency Response Benefit

General information

a. What are the eligibility criteria for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)?

The Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) is available to workers residing in Canada who are age 15 and over and who are employees or self-employed. To be eligible, individuals must:

When submitting the first claim, an individual cannot have earned more than $1,000 in employment and/or self-employment income for 14 or more consecutive days within the four-week benefit period of the claim.

When submitting subsequent claims, the applicant cannot have earned more than $1,000 in employment and/or self-employment income for the entire four-week benefit period of the new claim.

On June 16, 2020, the Prime Minister announced that the government is extending CERB by eight weeks, for a total of 24 weeks of benefits, to ensure Canadians have the help they need as they transition back to work.

b. How much do people receive?

As per the June 16th announcement, the Canada Emergency Response Benefit provides a flat $500 weekly amount for up to 24 weeks,either through Service Canada if they are EI-eligible or the Canada Revenue Agency. This means that people who are reaching the original maximum of 16 weeks in July will be able to receive 8 additional weeks provided they continue to meet the eligibility criteria.

c. How is the maximum of 24 weeks calculated?

The calculation of the 24 weeks begins with the first week for which you are receiving the Benefit. However, the 24 weeks do not have to be taken consecutively. For example, you could receive the Benefit for 4 weeks beginning March 15th and reapply for your second benefit period a few months later based on your personal situation.

Please note that the 24 week count does not restart when you reapply for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit after taking a break because you found employment.

d. How will the CERB support workers as they transition back to work, now that the economy is starting to reopen?

As we begin to restart the economy and get people back on the job, Canadians receiving the benefit should be actively seeking work opportunities or planning to return to work, provided they are able and it is reasonable to do so.

We encourage Canadians receiving the benefit to find employment and consult Job Bank, Canada’s national employment service that offers tools to help with job searches.

Canadian workers collecting the CERB can earn up to $1000 over a 4-week period and still receive the CERB to encourage them to take available work.

Over the next few weeks, the government will monitor international best practices, the economy, and the progression of the virus and, if needed, make necessary changes to the program so more people can have the support they need. We will also look at ways to ensure all our supports, including the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) and Employment Insurance (EI), are working effectively to help Canadians get back on their feet.

e. Why is the Government adding eight weeks of benefits under the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)?

While we are seeing positive progress in the number of people returning to the workforce, many Canadians continue to face real financial challenges.

Individuals who have collected the CERB continuously since March 15th have now received the former maximum $8,000 in benefits over 16 weeks, but will now be able to receive up to $4,000 more in benefits over 8 additional weeks if they remain eligible.

Extending the CERB will give workers greater confidence that they will continue to get the support they need as they face ongoing disruptions to their work and home situations due to COVID-19.

f. How can the Government extend CERB without legislation?

Under both the Canada Emergency Response Benefit Act and the Employment Insurance Act, the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion may change the maximum number of weeks of income support through regulations/interim orders to ensure the CERB continues to provide timely and efficient support to workers.

Specific eligibilities

g. Is someone self-isolating and not in quarantine eligible for the Canada Emergency Responses Benefit (CERB)?

The Canada Emergency Response Benefit is available to those who stop working for reasons related to COVID-19 but who do not voluntarily quit their job.

An applicant who is placed in quarantine or directed to self-isolate by a public health official, a medical doctor, or a nurse as a result of COVID-19 would not be considered to have stopped working voluntarily and therefore, would be eligible for CERB.

h. Does someone have to be without work for 14 days (is there a waiting period) before they can apply for the Benefit?

Applicants will be asked to certify that they have stopped or will stop working for reasons related to COVID-19, have not quit their job and will be earning no more than $1,000 as employment/self-employment income for at least 14 consecutive days within the initial four-week claim period and for the entire four weeks in subsequent periods.

i. Can employers keep their employees on payroll and top up their CERB without the employees being penalized? Is there a way for employees to receive CERB without having to be laid off first?

Workers do not need to be laid off to qualify. The employer-employee relationship can be maintained.

In addition, Canadians receiving the CERB can earn up to $1000 in employment/self employment income within the benefit period.

j. Are self-employed, contractors, gig economy workers, seasonal workers, etc. eligible for the CERB?

Yes, the CERB is available to workers, regardless of the nature of their employment, provided that they meet the eligibility criteria.

k. Do you have to be Canadian and/or earning your income in Canada to be eligible?

The intent is to support workers in the Canadian labour force who stopped working as a result of COVID-19.

A Canadian who earned income abroad and who is now residing here is eligible as long as the other conditions are met (if they ceased working due to COVID-19 and meet all other eligibility criteria).

An international student with a SIN and currently residing in Canada is eligible if other conditions are met (if they ceased working due to COVID-19 and meet all other eligibility criteria).

Service Canada requests the work permit from international students and temporary foreign workers to validate the 900-series SIN. Applicants must also prove that they are legally allowed to work in Canada. This is evidenced by the conditions of their work permit.

A Canadian currently residing abroad is not eligible (even if he/she worked in Canada last year).

Employment Insurance and the Canada Emergency Response Benefit

l. Are parents receiving EI maternity/parental benefits, or parents who are expecting a child, able to obtain the Canada Emergency Response Benefit?

You cannot receive maternity or parental benefits at the same time as the Canada Emergency Response Benefit.

If you cannot return to work due to COVID-19 following your maternity/parental leave, you would be considered to have stopped working due to COVID-19. If you meet the other eligibility requirements you may receive the Canada Emergency Response Benefit.

However, being on the CERB will not affect an expectant mother’s ability to collect EI maternity and parental benefits. We have come up with a way that will not negatively impact any expectant mother who should have been receiving the CERB.

Expectant mothers who lost their job and are eligible for EI prior to March 15th, should have received EI regular benefits, and when eligible, transition to EI maternity and parental benefits following the birth of their child. The benefits will be paid at the rate and duration established under EI rules.

Expectant mothers who lost their job and are eligible for EI after March 15th should receive the CERB (to a maximum of 24 weeks) and when eligible, transition to EI maternity and parental. CERB benefits will be paid out at the rate of $500/week.

As of May 8th, women who should have been receiving the CERB had their claims converted retroactively to the CERB. The weeks for which they collect the CERB will not impact the number of weeks of maternity and parental benefits they may receive.

m. Are we adjusting EI so persons with fewer hours are be able to obtain EI?

The Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) was designed to address the needs of workers affected by COVID-19 as quickly as possible while having a system in place that would hold up to an unprecedented high volume of individuals applying for financial support. It was therefore essential, at the onset, to have simple eligibility rules in place.

Further, the CERB has been expanded to help more Canadians benefit from the program, including:

The Government recently extended CERB eligibility for 8 additional weeks.

The Government is considering next steps, once this extension ends.

n. Are we eliminating the one-week waiting period on regular EI?

For anyone who became eligible for Employment Insurance (EI) regular or sickness benefits on March 15, 2020 or later, their EI claim are automatically processed through the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, which has no waiting period.

o. Are we extending EI Regular benefits for those who are currently on them and are soon going to run out? I.e. Seasonal Workers

The government has extended the CERB to workers, including seasonal workers, who exhaust their EI regular or fishing benefits between December 29, 2019 and October 3, 2020 and are unable to return to work as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.

p. What is gov’t doing about fraud?

The CERB Act includes provisions to support the verification of compliance with program rules. These provisions are being used to prevent the payment of CERB to ineligible applicants whenever possible.

People who unknowingly made errors in their application are required to repay to any CERB payments they received for which they were ineligible, but would not be subject to additional penalties.

2. Temporary Foreign Workers

a. What flexibilities has the Government introduced to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program to ensure employers have access to workers?

Recognizing the continued importance of foreign workers to ensuring Canada’s food security, on a temporary basis, we have streamlined requirements for employers hiring workers in occupations related to agriculture and food processing, and are prioritizing those applications.

Given the persistent need for foreign workers in full-time/full-year positions under the low-wage stream of the program, which include occupations related to meat, fish and seafood processing, we have introduced a pilot to increase the maximum duration of a Labour Market Impact Assessment from one to two years. This initiative is expected to reduce processing times and costs for employers and the Government.

We have also implemented additional administrative flexibilities to enable employers to adapt to the COVID-19 situation, such as expediting the process for employers wishing the change the name of an already identified foreign worker, and eliminating the requirement for an employer to advise us of minor administrative changes.

b. With so many Canadians unemployed, why can’t we require employers to hire them rather than foreign workers?

I share this concern, and acknowledge that there may be cases where a temporary foreign worker fills a position that could have been filled by a Canadian. That being said, these are extraordinary circumstances, the situation is evolving rapidly, and it is critical that we ensure continued trade, commerce and food security.

With respect to agriculture, temporary foreign workers have been integral to Canada’s food production since the 1960s. Last year, approximately 60,000 temporary foreign workers came to Canada to work in agriculture and food processing jobs.

The agriculture and agri-food sectors have traditionally had difficulty in recruiting and hiring Canadians, despite the requirement that they advertise to Canadians first. The jobs are seasonal, often located outside of major urban centers, and based on recruitment efforts to date, do not appear to be attractive to many Canadians.

In the current context, especially where many farms have already started planting for the season, pivoting quickly to an all-Canadian agriculture workforce would pose significant challenges. At the same time, it is likely that fewer temporary foreign workers will come to Canada this year, putting additional pressure on the sector.

We continue to encourage employers to hire Canadians, and jobs are posted – and continue to be available – for Canadians who are interested. In addition, we are exploring additional ways to shore up our domestic labour supply.

c. Given the rapid rise in unemployment due to COVID-19, how is ESDC assessing employer applications for temporary foreign workers?

Applications to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program involve an extensive assessment of a number of factors, including labour market need, with a view to ensuring that Canadians and Permanent Residents are considered first for available jobs. This includes an assessment of labour market information.

While the rapidly evolving situation has reduced the usefulness of current labour market information to make objective assessments of labour shortages, the Program’s assessment of employer requests includes a number of criteria that take into account the state of the labour market.

For example, most employers must prove that they have made credible efforts to hire Canadians or Permanent residents, and will have their Employment Insurance history reviewed to ensure that they have not recently laid off Canadians.

In response to COVID-19, the Government has strengthened its assessment criteria for all new and existing applications under review:

We are also exploring other potential adjustments to enable the program to adapt to the evolving context more quickly.

d. What is the role of employers of temporary foreign workers in safeguarding public health during this pandemic?

Like all travellers to Canada, temporary foreign workers are responsible for complying with orders made under the Quarantine Act, including the current requirement for mandatory quarantine or isolation.

Employers are expected to follow the latest public health and safety requirements and guidance from the Government of Canada and their provincial/territorial and local authorities.

Amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, which entered into force on April 20, 2020, compel employers of temporary foreign workers to:

Employers who do not comply with the requirements could be subject to penalties of up to $1 million and a ban from hiring foreign workers, depending on the seriousness of the situation and number of workers affected.

e. How do you enforce employer compliance with the new requirements?

Communication has been the cornerstone of our approach to ensuring employers understand and comply with the new requirements related to COVID-19.

The Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion and the Minister of Health outlined the Government’s expectations of employers regarding COVID-19 in a letter shared with all employers of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and posted online on April 3.

Additional guidance to employers, informed by the expertise of public health officials, as well as extensive stakeholder engagement at the officials’ level, have also taken place.

Amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations now enable enforcement of the new requirements through inspections and the application of penalties for non-compliance under the existing administrative monetary penalties framework.

Given the critical importance of protecting public health, these amendments include the ability for enforcement officers to conduct inspections regarding COVID-19 early, quickly, and make final determinations faster. Inspections are being initiated proactively, but also reactively, such as through tips, or reports of confirmed cases of COVID-19 at a worksite. To date, over 600 inspections have been initiated.

The Government will continue to work with provinces/territories, partner countries, employer associations, worker support organizations, and other stakeholders to address issues and questions, and make adjustments as the situation evolves.

f. Why doesn’t the Government take responsibility for quarantining workers?

Together, we all have an important role to play in protecting public health throughout this pandemic, and we share a key objective – to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The Government of Canada has implemented a number of measures to screen travellers, including temporary foreign workers, before they leave for Canada, and upon arrival.

In addition, I understand that some provinces are imposing additional requirements for foreign workers upon arrival.

Under current program rules, many employers of temporary foreign workers, especially those in agriculture, provide housing to workers. We have been engaging with employer groups, and communicating with employers directly, to ensure that this housing enables workers to meet the requirements of quarantine. New regulatory amendments enable enforcement of these requirements.

We are also offering compensation to employers in key sectors to defray some of the additional costs they may incur as a result of the new requirements.

Importantly, this approach will help to ensure the health of the public, including foreign workers, is protected not just for their first two weeks in Canada, but throughout their entire period of employment.

g. What is the Government of Canada doing to address COVID-19 outbreaks and deaths amongst Temporary Foreign Workers?

The Government of Canada takes the health and safety of foreign workers very seriously, and expresses its deepest condolences to the families of Mr. Santos and Mr. Romero.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government has worked with provincial/territorial governments, employers, community service and migrant worker organizations as well as source country governments on actions to protect the health and safety of the workers and communities.

Like all travellers to Canada, temporary foreign workers must follow orders made under the Quarantine Act, including the current requirement to self-isolate for 14 days upon arrival into Canada.

The Government has implemented new regulations, which compel employers to meet the new requirements. This includes not preventing a worker from meeting their requirements under the Quarantine Act, as well as provincial/territorial public health laws related to COVID-19. Employers who provide accommodations to workers as part of the requirements of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program must also meet new requirements to limit the potential spread of COVID-19.

Employers who do not comply could be subject to penalties of up to $1 million and a ban from hiring foreign workers, depending on the seriousness of the situation and number of workers affected.

Service Canada is conducting inspections to verify employer compliance. To date, over 600 inspections have been initiated. Investigators will inform local public health units if workers are suspected of having COVID-19 symptoms.

In addition, the Government is communicating directly with employers and workers and producing multilingual guidance to facilitate understanding of these requirements.

While Provinces/territories are responsible for establishing and enforcing health and safety rules for most workplaces, the Government of Canada works with the appropriate provincial/territorial body and other partners when outbreaks occur to safeguard the health and safety of workers and mitigate the risk to public health.

The Government of Canada is looking at ways to strengthen current approaches to ensure the rights and health of migrant workers are protected in collaboration with provinces and territories and organizations that support migrant workers.

3. Service Delivery

a. How is the Government of Canada supporting Canadians affected by COVID-19?

The Government established the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB),a taxable benefit that provides $500 per week for up to 24 weeks to workers who stop working as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and do not have more than $1000 in employment and self-employment income for a period of at least 14 consecutive days in their first 4-week period and for the entire 4-weeks of any subsequent period. Individuals eligible for Employment Insurance regular or sickness benefits as of March 15th as well as those who have exhausted their Employment insurance regular or fishing benefits between December 29, 2019 and October 3, 2020 are also eligible.

The Government of Canada’s priority is to ensure that Canadians receive the money they are entitled to as quickly as possible. That is why the CERB is being jointly administered by Service Canada and the Canada Revenue Agency.

There is no waiting period and direct deposit payments will be delivered into accounts within three to five business days of applicants being eligible to receive it, and cheques within 10 days.

b. What are you doing to address wait times?

As of June 18, 2020, CRA and Service Canada have received and processed 18.2 million applications. The Department has received and processed over 4 million applications for EI (including Canada Emergency Response Benefits (CERB) for EI eligible applicants).

The Department is putting in place strategies to ensure the timely delivery of benefits.

  1. Service Canada has recently redeployed almost 3,000 additional staff from other less critical activities to focus on supporting the delivery of EI and the CERB. We are continuing to work on accelerating and increasing our hiring plans for the remainder of the year (a 250% increase)
  2. We are focused on processing new claims and leaving adjustments aside, while also providing adequate assurance of quality and appropriate stewardship of public funds
  3. We are deploying strategies to increase automation and increase self-service opportunities for clients. Clients can resolve their enquiry through our CERB informational automated service, which is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and is 100% accessible to clients
  4. To support the CERB and to increase the capacity of our call centres, a New Virtual Call Centre was established on April 6 within Service Canada
  5. This virtual call centre, which serves clients who are applying, or who have already applied through EI for CERB, has shortened wait times

Taken together these measures will ensure we get Canadians the benefits they need when they need them most.

We have been able to get payments out to the overwhelming majority of applicants ahead of our EI service standard of 28 days.

c. The Service Canada Centres are closed, how can I access services?

As an alternative to in-person service, Service Canada programs and services are available online at Canada.ca/service-canada-home home or by telephone at: 1 800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232) - TTY: 1-800-926-9105.

You are encouraged to apply online for benefits and/or to mail your applications or supporting document to us. Service Canada services and mailing instructions are available online at Canada.ca/service-canada-home.

Additionally, you can contact our specialized call centres for program specific support:

Employment Insurance: Toll-Free: 1-800-206-7218, TTY: 1-800-529-3742.

Canada Pension and Old Age Security: Toll-Free: 1-800-277-9914, TTY: 1-800-255-4786.

If you are applying for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) and you require additional support, you can reach an agent at 1-833-699-0299.

Hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. local time, Monday to Friday

Please Note: Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, we are experiencing higher than normal call volumes. We encourage you to use self-serve options to access our programs and services online, and to avoid calling Service Canada if your request is not urgent.

We ask Canadians for their patience at this time so that we can focus our efforts on the most vulnerable Canadian population.

d. Will there be higher IT capacity?

The Department has been working with Shared Services Canada to increase its IT network and system capacity to address the significant increase in EI applications. Measures taken to-date include enhancing the IT infrastructure to enable more staff to telework, ensuring stakeholders are able to access online services and improving processing capacity.

System usage is being monitored very closely and the Department is prepared to take additional measures to augment capacity as required.

e. How are we reaching Indigenous communities; how can they apply if they don’t have internet access or access to a Service Canada Office?

Service Canada delivers critical services to Canadians and continues to work hard to ensure that Canadians have access to these services during the COVID-19 situation.

Even though our doors are closed, our services to Canadians continue.

Service Canada launched the e-Service Canada channel at the end of March 2020. It is designed to protect the health and safety of our staff while ensuring continued access to service by Canadians. These activities mirror the service provided by clients who come into Service Canada Centres for application support.

Clients with internet access who require assistance in applying for benefits are able to reach in person staff through an online service request form at canada.ca/service-canada-e-service or they can scan the QR code provided on posters outside of Service Canada Centres. Once clients fill out the service request form, a Service Canada Centre employee will call clients within two (2) business days. Service Canada employees will provide personalized service support for EI and pension applications for clients with internet access.

In addition, Outreach staff have contacted communities and trusted partners across the country to make them aware of eServiceCanada, and to encourage them to share the contact information with their members and clients.

To supplement the new eServiceCanada approach, Service Canada launched a new Outreach Support Centre on April 14. This is a toll-free service for Indigenous communities and other vulnerable clients facing barriers to accessing ESDC’s critical programs and benefits. As of June 8, 2020, 9,165 calls have been received.

As of June 8, 2020, 7,197 contacts have been made to Service Delivery Partners and Indigenous, Northern and remote communities.

Skills and employment

1. Work sharing

a. Are we able to streamline the work-sharing program?

b. What other changes have been made to the work-sharing program?

2. Canada Summer Jobs Program

a. How is CSJ changing for summer 2020 to respond to COVID-19?

CSJ continues to serve youth aged 15-30 and the Department is working with employers which have already submitted applications to roll out CSJ 2020.

To encourage job creation through additional flexibilities and supports, CSJ 2020 has:

MPs were also invited to identify local organizations that support the delivery of essential services but have not applied for funding and could provide youth a job placement.

Interested job seekers are now able to search and apply for CSJ jobs in their community.

b. As of June 8, 2020, there were over 55,000 Canada Summer Jobs posted on Job Bank. Many other positions have already been filled and removed from Job Bank. More jobs are expected to be posted in the coming weeks targeting approximately 70,000 placements. This site is the leading source for obtaining jobs and labour market information. Job Bank offers users occupational and career information on job opportunities, educational requirements, wage rates and salaries, as well as current employment trends and outlooks. More information may be found at: www.jobbank.gc.ca. What program adjustments have been put in place to better support the delivery of essential services?

All employers approved for funding are provided with the flexibility to amend project and job activities to support the delivery of critical services.

MPs were also invited to work with the Department to identify local organizations that provide critical services that have not applied for CSJ funding but could be solicited to submit an application to offer job placements.

Interested job seekers are now able to search and apply for CSJ jobs in their community.

c. How much funding is being provided to the CSJ Program in 2020?

The Government of Canada is investing $263 million in funding for the Canada Summer Jobs program in 2020 to support the creation of 70,000 youth jobs with an average duration of 8 weeks, 35 hours.

3. Youth Employment and Skills Strategy

a. What changes are being introduced under the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS) program in response to COVID-19?

Additional investments in the YESS program will increase employment opportunities and supports for youth across the country who are impacted by the pandemic by:

b. How many jobs for youth will be created in emergency sectors through additional investments?

c. What youth will benefit? Will these changes support youth facing barriers?

YESS programming is available to all youth aged 15 to 30.

Additional supports, such as mentorship, access to computers, access to mental health supports, are aimed at ensuring youth facing barriers to the labour market can benefit from these new opportunities.

These enhancements to YESS complement other measures introduced to support youth and students impacted by the COVID-19 crisis, including the enhancements to Canada Summer Jobs Program.

d. Which critical sectors will these additional job placements help? What type of jobs are being created?

These youth jobs will begin quickly to support high-demand sectors including, but not restricted to: agriculture and agri-food; biosciences and research; transport; environment; and, community services.

These placements in high-demand sectors will protect the health and safety of youth. Examples of jobs include: telephone and online health and social support services, research and administrative roles, supporting roles for services to vulnerable populations, etc.

4. Student Work Placement Program

a. What changes are being made to the Student Work Placement Program in response to COVID-19?

An additional investment of $80M will be made in 2020-21 to help post-secondary students access paid work integrated learning opportunities in their fields of study through the creation of up to 20,000 student work placements, including in critical sectors such as health-care and other front line sectors.

Temporary program flexibilities are also being introduced under the Student Work Placement Program to support employers in creating student work placements over the coming year, including

  1. an increase to the wage subsidy to up to 75% (up to a maximum of $7,500 per placement) for all placements, from the current 50% for regular placements and 70% for placements targeting under-represented youth; and
  2. waiving the criteria requiring employers to offer more placements than they did in previous years, in order to receive Student Work Placement Program funding

These changes are temporary and will be in place until March 31, 2021.

5. Financial support for students

a. How is the Government of Canada supporting students facing financial challenges as a result of COVID-19?

The Government of Canada has recently announced a number of measures to support students who are facing financial challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

First, the Government introduced a six-month interest-free repayment moratorium on all Canada Student Loans between March 30 and September 30, 2020. This measure will provide relief to nearly 1 million Canada Student Loans Program borrowers in repayment.

Second, the Government introduced the Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB), which is providing financial support from May to August to post-secondary students and recent graduates who cannot find summer employment due to COVID-19. Eligible students receive $1,250 per month, plus an additional $750 per month if they have dependants or a disability for a maximum of $2,000 per month. The CESB is available to Canadians who are enrolled in a post-secondary education program. Over 570,000 students have already benefited from this measure.

Third, to ensure that returning and new post-secondary students can afford to pursue their studies, the Government has announced significant increases in grants and loans for the 2020-2021 school year. These changes include doubling the Canada Student Grants up to $6,000 for full-time students and up to $3,600 for part-time students. Canada Student Grants for Students with Permanent Disabilities and Students with Dependants will also be doubled. Students with disabilities will receive $4,000, while full-time students with dependants will receive up to $3,200 per child and part-time students with dependants will receive up to $3,840 per year. Students will also have access to more loans because we are raising the cap on Canada Student Loans from $210 to $350 per week of study, and no contribution will be expected from students and their spouses, in recognition that many students and families will struggle to save for this school year.

b. Who is eligible to receive the CESB?

The CESB is available to Canadian citizens, permanent residents, registered Indians, and protected persons who are enrolled in a post-secondary education program leading to a degree, diploma, or certificate; or who ended their studies no earlier than December 2019. It is also available to high school graduates (or equivalent) who have applied for admission in a post-secondary educational program beginning before February 1, 2021.

When applying, students must attest that for COVID-19 related reasons, they are:

In addition, students are not eligible for CESB if they are receiving the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) or Employment Insurance benefits for the same four-week period as their current application.

c. Do students need to do anything to receive this benefit?

Students must apply for each monthly period through their CRA My Account and meet the eligibility criteria. They must attest that the information they are providing is accurate.

d. Why is the government increasing the student loan burden for students?

To ensure that students are not left with ‘unmet need’ in light of increasing educational cost, the Government will increase the cap on student loans, which has not changed since 2005. Any increase in student debt is expected to be mitigated by steps the Government has introduced in recent years to make post-secondary education more affordable and student debt more manageable. This includes tripling of students grants since 2015, the lowering of interest rate on Canada Student Loans and enhancements to the Repayment Assistance Plan such that no student has to repay their student loans until they are making at least $25,000 per year.

6. Supports for Student Learning Program

a. What supports are being provided for vulnerable young learners in response to COVID-19?

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on children, youth, and their families, particularly as they adapt to school closures and disconnection from the social networks. These families now face challenges supporting their students in the transition to online learning. Traditionally, youth-serving organizations have been an anchor to help vulnerable children, youth and families through periods of transition. However, the current environment requires these organizations to accelerate access to digitized mentoring and tutoring supports so that no child in Canada is left further behind because of COVID-19.

This is why the Government will invest $15 million to help organizations working in the after-school space to reach approximately 14,700 vulnerable children and youth through the delivery of online wraparound supports and increase the connectivity for these young learners and their families.

b. How will these new supports for digitized services help students during this pandemic?

Many of ESDC’s existing partner organizations have established trusted relationships with vulnerable children and youth facing barriers to education, and who need critical supports such as tutoring and mentoring. To maintain continuity of the supports and services they provide, and to ensure that approximately 14,700 vulnerable children and youth do not become further marginalized as a result of COVID-19, this investment will help organizations to migrate their programming and supports to digital delivery platforms.

In addition, given that a significant digital divide exists in terms of connectivity and access to technology, particularly for low-income and rural and remote families, this investment will help organizations ensure that youth have access to internet and adequate technologies at home. By making sure that youth do not disengage from their academics and important social outlets, this will help to prevent a negative impact on high school graduation rates, post-secondary enrolment and persistence, and employment readiness for years to come.

c. Which organizations will deliver this new funding?

This investment will leverage existing relationships with youth-serving organizations that have established, trusted relationships with vulnerable children and youth facing barriers to education.

In addition to collaborating with these organizations, the department will also look to quickly establish new partnerships that could support additional vulnerable children and youth, including students with disabilities, and students in rural, Northern, and remote communities.

Vulnerable populations

1. Homelessness

a. What is the Government of Canada doing to address COVID-19 for those experiencing homelessness or those at-risk of homelessness?

One of the most important roles of our Government during this global pandemic is to support vulnerable Canadians, including those who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness.

This is why as a Government we are monitoring the evolution of the COVID-19 outbreak very closely. The Public Health Agency of Canada continues to work in close collaboration with provincial, territorial and local public health authorities to ensure appropriate responses are in place across the country.

The Government announced has invested $157.5 million for Reaching Home: Canada's Homelessness Strategy, to address the needs of those experiencing homelessness in the face of the COVID-19 crisis. Reaching Home provides a community-based approach to deliver funding directly to municipalities and local service providers.

Beginning on April 1st, 2020, additional funding has been provided to the 58 Designated Communities (including the seven in Quebec), 30 communities receiving funding directly under the Indigenous Homelessness stream, and the three territorial capitals. Funding has also been made available to Rural and Remote communities across Canada.

In addition, $15 million of reallocated funding was provided to seven large communities at the end of the 2019-20 fiscal year.

Overall, the approach to incremental funding has been designed to focus investments on urban centres where the risk of viral spread is highest, while also providing funding to support rural and remote communities. It also provides the flexibility to offer additional support to communities dealing with more significant outbreaks over time.

2. Seniors

GIS annual renewal

a. What was announced on May 12?

The Government of Canada announced that the deferred tax filing deadline would not have an impact on Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) and Allowance benefits. This means that low-income seniors will continue to receive their payments without interruption if their 2019 income information is not available to reassess their entitlement. This new measure will ensure that GIS and Allowance recipients continue to receive their benefits during this difficult time.

b. What does this measure change for GIS and Allowance recipients?

GIS and Allowance recipients normally need to file their income taxes or declare their income to Service Canada before the end of June every year in order to avoid interruptions in payments. GIS benefits are renewed annually in July and are calculated based the income information from the previous year. This new measure will now allow beneficiaries to receive the same amount of GIS/Allowance in July that they received in June, if their 2019 income is not yet available.

Benefits will be adjusted retroactively to July 2020 once Service Canada has received the 2019 income information from the Canada Revenue Agency, or directly from the recipients. Seniors are encouraged to file their tax return as soon as possible, and no later than October 1, 2020, as it is the best way to ensure that they continue to receive all the benefits to which they are entitled.

c. Why is the Government of Canada taking this measure?

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the delivery of crucial services to low-income seniors across Canada, including free tax clinics. As per the eligibility requirements of the program, GIS and Allowance recipients need to file their income taxes every year, or provide their income information directly to Service Canada, in order to avoid interruptions in payments.

To ensure that this vulnerable group continues to receive payments during this difficult time, the Government of Canada will authorize that their GIS/Allowance payments continue uninterrupted if their 2019 income information is not available to reassess their benefits.

d. How long will this interim measure last? Will clients be cut off at any point?

This measure is a temporary one to address the potential impact the pandemic may have on the ability of beneficiaries to report their income or file their income tax return. GIS beneficiaries will still need to provide their 2019 income to Service Canada or file their income tax return. To avoid an interruption in payment in January 2021, seniors are encouraged to file their tax return as soon as possible, and no later than October 1, 2020.

e. How and when will the GIS benefits be adjusted?

GIS benefits will be adjusted retroactively to July 2020 once Service Canada has received the 2019 income information from the Canada Revenue Agency, or directly from the recipient.

f. Were seniors at risk of not receiving their GIS benefits before this measure was introduced?

As a result of the pandemic, the Government of Canada deferred the 2019 tax filing deadline from May 1, 2020 to June 1, 2020.

The service standard to process tax returns at the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is two weeks for electronic tax returns and eight weeks for paper tax returns. Many seniors use paper tax-filing when filing their tax returns. In addition, self-isolation or illness among seniors, and the lack of availability of free tax filing services on which many low-income seniors rely, could affect their ability to file their tax returns.

In light of these factors, some clients’ income information may not be available to reassess the GIS entitlement for July. GIS recipients who do not provide their income information to Service Canada by that date would have typically seen their benefits suspended.

By ensuring that GIS benefits continue to be paid without interruption, the Government of Canada is taking a proactive approach to ensure the financial security of low-income seniors during these difficult times.

Interaction with CERB and GIS

g. Is income from the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) used in the calculation of GIS benefits?

The Canada Emergency Response Benefit provides temporary income support to workers who have stopped working related to COVID-19. The Benefit is taxable, and will be included in the calculation of net income under the Income Tax Act. This means that, for seniors who were employed pre-COVID, it must be considered when determining entitlement to the GIS and the Allowances.

This being said, the CERB will not affect GIS and Allowance payments for about a year. Income received from the CERB in 2020 will only be considered for GIS eligibility purposes beginning in July 2021, as those benefits will be based on 2020 income.

To provide support during the pandemic, the Government of Canada is providing additional financial support of $2.5 billion for a one-time tax-free payment of $300 for seniors eligible for the Old Age Security (OAS) pension, with an additional $200 for seniors eligible for the GIS. This measure will give a total of $500 to individuals who are eligible to receive both the OAS and the GIS, and will help them cover increased costs caused by COVID-19. It is estimated that approximately 6.7 million OAS pensioners will benefit from the $300 payment, and 2.2 million of those pensioners will receive the additional $200 payment due to their eligibility to the GIS.

The Government has also provided more than 4 million low and modest-income seniors an average of $375 for singles and $510 for couples through a one-time special payment of the Goods and Services Tax Credit.

New horizons for seniors program (NHSP) – additional funding.

h. How do you intend to spend the $20 million incremental investment in NHSP?

The NHSP supports the social participation and inclusion of seniors by funding activities that make a difference in the lives of seniors and their communities. At this time when COVID-19 is affecting our communities, seniors need our support to overcome the impact of the pandemic. $20 million in new funding will go towards projects that assist seniors impacted by COVID-19 as well as broader recovery efforts to safely reduce social isolation and promote social participation of seniors in their communities. Priorities will include a focus on seniors’ mental health, supporting virtual connections and other activities. The funding will be invested to help ensure seniors from communities across the country are well-supported during the COVID pandemic. The investment approach will focus on timely delivery of supports, leveraging the very successful 2019-20 Call for Proposals of the program, including unfunded eligible projects that can support seniors during the pandemic.

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