On March 24, 2020, the Canadian Government passed Bill C-13, introducing (among other measures in response to COVID-19) the new Canada Emergency Response Benefit (or “CERB”). The CERB will be available from March 15, 2020 to October 3, 2020, and replaces both of the previously announced Emergency Care Benefit and Emergency Support Benefit.
The benefit will be a taxable amount of $2000.00 monthly for a period of up to 16 weeks.
This new benefit will be available to workers who lose their income on account of a multitude of possible reasons related to the pandemic, including termination of employment, temporary layoff, sickness, quarantine, the care of a sick relative or child-care obligations resulting from either sickness or school/day-care closure.