Canada broadens $300-a-week COVID-19 benefit as Omicron prompts new restrictions
Global News
Under the Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit, eligible workers can now receive $300 — $270 after taxes — when their region is hit with capacity limits of 50 per cent or more.
The government is expanding eligibility for its Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit amid new Omicron-related COVID-19 restrictions, allowing any worker to apply for the support if their workplace has been slapped with capacity-limiting restrictions of 50 per cent or more.
The announcement comes after provinces across the country have hit bars, restaurants and other workplaces with new restrictions — but no lockdowns — to try to contain the spread of the Omicron variant. Last Thursday, there were more than 43,000 active COVID-19 cases across Canada. Just six days later, there are more than 72,000.
“We’re temporarily expanding eligibility for key programs. For the Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit and the Local Lockdown program, you will be able to apply if you’re subject to capacity-limiting restrictions,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Wednesday.
“Here’s the bottom line: we need, all of us, (to) do what it takes so Canadians are protected and to have what you need to weather the storm.”
Eligible workers can receive $300 — $270 after taxes — for each one-week period until May 7, 2022. The expanded eligibility, however, only applies until Feb. 12, 2022.
To get the benefit, you’ll also need to have lost 50 per cent or more of your income as a result of these capacity limits, according to the government.
Before the announcement, the Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit only applied to regions where a COVID-19 lockdown order had been designated. According to the government of Canada’s website, however, no regions in Canada meet the criteria right now — which meant that applications were “not available.”
Bill C-2, which brought this new benefit to life, became law last Friday. The benefit is the government’s latest temporary income support for Canadians who can’t work because of the pandemic. It follows past programs like the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) and the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB).
