Canadians who lost their jobs during the pandemic, and have not been able to find work, will be able to collect extra weeks of Employment Insurance benefits.
Bill C-24 was approved by the Senate Wednesday and immediately becomes law.
The bill amends the act, temporarily, to provide up to 50 weeks of employment benefits for out-of-work Canadians. Previously the maximum number of weeks of benefits was 42.
The legislation is specifically for people who establish claims for regular EI benefits between Sept. 27, 2020 and Sept. 25, 2021.
The temporary changes to the EI program through Bill C-24 do not apply to fishing EI claims.
In a press release Thursday, the Department of Employment and Social Development said Bill C-24 also includes changes for self-employed workers who have opted into the EI program for special benefits.
They are now able to use a 2020 earnings threshold of $5,000, compared to the previous threshold of $7,555.
This change is retroactive for claims established as of Jan. 3, 2021 and applies until Sept. 25, 2021.
As part of this legislation, all international travellers who need to quarantine or isolate upon their return to Canada, including people returning from vacation, are ineligible to receive support from any of the recovery benefits for the period of their mandatory quarantine or isolation. These changes are retroactive to Oct. 2, 2020.
The department added, individuals who would normally be exempt from the mandatory quarantine requirements under the Quarantine Act, such as health-care workers who need to cross the border for work or truck drivers, are still eligible to apply following their return to the country.
An exemption also applies to those who travel to receive a necessary medical treatment or to accompany someone who is travelling for such treatment and requires assistance.
The department also noted in its news release, that in addition to Bill C-24,
new regulations are in effect to increase the number of weeks available under the Canada Recovery Benefits.
This includes an increase in the number of weeks available under the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB) and the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB) by 12 weeks, extending the maximum duration of the benefits from 26 weeks to 38 weeks. It also includes increases number of weeks available under the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) to four weeks. People can access these additional weeks through the Canada Revenue Agency beginning today, March 18.
According to the department, on March 14 there were just over two million active EI regular benefit claimants.
Bill C-24 was introduced to the House of Commons in February by Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion Minister Carla Qualtrough. Parliament voted on March 12 to send the bill to the Senate . Royal Assent is the last step to turn a bill into law.
There is no information available, however, on how much this amendment to EI benefits will cost.
A cost summary, information that advises Parliament and the Senate on the financial implications of proposed legislation, has not been completed.