Changes to the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CERB)

The Government of Canada is introducing a new Bill in relation to the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, with the goal of making CERB less attractive for those who may be able to return to work.  The Bill will establish a menu of penalties for those who knowingly make false or misleading representations in their CERB applications, including warnings, directly-levied fines of up to 3x the CERB income support for the period and even criminal prosecution.

Subsection 5(1)(b) shortens the mandatory re-filing period to 2 weeks from 4 weeks after July 5 and before October 3.

The CERB Act would also be amended to provide that a worker is not eligible for an income support payment if they do not return to work when it is reasonable to do so or if they decline a reasonable job offer.

Subsection 6 (2.1) A worker is not eligible for an income support payment if they (a) fail to return to work when it is reasonable to do so and the employer makes a request for their return; (b) fail to resume self-employment when it is reasonable to do so; or (c) decline a reasonable job offer when they are able to work.