Ottawa extends CEWS, CERS, CRB benefits until Oct 23

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland and Minister of Employment Carla Qualtrough, on Friday (July 30), announced an extension of COVID-19 support measures for Canadians and Canadian businesses. 

The update comes with a recognition that "uneven economic reopening across regions and sectors means workers and businesses continue to need support," reads a statement on the government's website. 

These extensions include:

• Extending the eligibility period for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS), the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS) and Lockdown Support until October 23, 2021, and increasing the rate of support employers and organizations can receive during the period between August 29 and September 25, 2021.
• Extending the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB), the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB), and the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) until October 23, 2021.
• Increasing the maximum number of weeks available for the CRB, by an additional 4 weeks, to a total of 54 weeks, at a rate of $300 per week, and ensuring it is available to  those who have exhausted their employment insurance (EI) benefits.

"As our recovery gets underway, workers and businesses in certain regions and sectors continue to need support," reads a statement. "By moving forward on these extensions, the government is ensuring that businesses – including those in hard-hit sectors like tourism, hospitality, arts, and entertainment – can continue to get the support they need so they can invest in their recovery and long-term prosperity."

In addition, the government is proposing to offer businesses greater flexibility when calculating the revenue decline used to determine eligibility for the wage and rent subsidy programs and the new Canada Recovery Hiring Program. 

The government is also releasing draft legislation that provides further clarity on previously announced changes to the wage subsidy for furloughed employees.

More details on the extension and these proposed changes to COVID business supports are available in the backgrounder associated with today’s announcement.

This is a developing story.

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