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Bill C-24

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SUMMARY
Employment Insurance Act
Canada Recovery Benefits Act
Customs Act
Coming into Force
EXPLANATORY NOTES

Second Session, Forty-third Parliament,

69-70 Elizabeth II, 2020-2021

HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA

BILL C-24
An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act (additional regular benefits), the Canada Recovery Benefits Act (restriction on eligibility) and another Act in response to COVID-19

FIRST READING, February 25, 2021

MINISTER OF EMPLOYMENT, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND DISABILITY INCLUSION

90981

SUMMARY

This enactment amends the Employment Insurance Act in order, temporarily, to increase the maximum number of weeks for which regular benefits may be paid under Part I of that Act and facilitate access to benefits for self-employed persons under Part VII.‍1 of that Act.

It also amends the Canada Recovery Benefits Act to

(a) add a condition to provide that a person is eligible for benefits only if they were not, at any time during a benefit period, required to quarantine or isolate themselves under any order made under the Quarantine Act as a result of entering into Canada or

(i) if they were required to do so, the only reason for their having been outside Canada was to receive a necessary medical treatment or to accompany someone who was required to receive a necessary medical treatment, or

(ii) if, as a result of entering into Canada, they were required to isolate themselves under such an order at any time during the benefit period, they are a person to whom the requirement to quarantine themselves under the order would not have applied had they not been required to isolate themselves; and

(b) authorize the Minister of Health to assist the Minister of Employment and Social Development in verifying whether a person meets the eligibility condition referred to in paragraph 3(1)‍(m), 10(1)‍(i) or 17(1)‍(i) of the Canada Recovery Benefits Act and to disclose personal information obtained under the Quarantine Act to the Minister of Employment and Social Development for that purpose.

And finally, it amends the Customs Act to authorize the disclosure of information for the purpose of administering or enforcing the Canada Recovery Benefits Act.

Available on the House of Commons website at the following address:

www.ourcommons.ca

2nd Session, 43rd Parliament,

69-70 Elizabeth II, 2020-2021

HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA

BILL C-24

An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act (additional regular benefits), the Canada Recovery Benefits Act (restriction on eligibility) and another Act in response to COVID-19

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:

1996, c. 23

Employment Insurance Act

1 (1) Section 12 of the Employment Insurance Act is amended by adding the following after subsection (2):

General maximum — exception

(2.‍1) Despite subsection (2), the maximum number of weeks for which benefits may be paid in a benefit period because of a reason other than those mentioned in subsection (3) to a claimant whose benefit period begins during the period beginning on September 27, 2020 and ending on September 25, 2021 is 50.

Non-application

(2.‍2) Subsection (2.‍1) does not apply to a claimant under the Employment Insurance (Fishing) Regulations.

Exception

(2.‍3) Despite subsection (2) and subsection 77.‍992(5) of the Employment Insurance Regulations, the maximum number of weeks for which benefits may be paid in a benefit period because of a reason other than those mentioned in subsection (3) to a claimant who is included in Pilot Project No. 21 established under those Regulations and whose benefit period begins during the period beginning on September 27, 2020 and ending on September 25, 2021 is 50.

2016, c. 7, s. 212(4)

(2) Subsection 12(6) of the Act is replaced by the following:

Combined weeks of benefits

(6) In a claimant’s benefit period, the claimant may, subject to the applicable maximums, combine weeks of benefits to which the claimant is entitled Insertion start under subsection Insertion end (2), Insertion start (2.‍1) or (2.‍3) Insertion end and because of a reason mentioned in Insertion start subsection Insertion end (3), but the total number of weeks of benefits shall not exceed 50.

2009, c. 33, s. 16

2 Subparagraph 152.‍07(1)‍(d)‍(i) of the Act is replaced by the following:

Start of inserted block
(i) if the person has not accumulated a violation in the 260 weeks before making their initial claim for benefits,
- (A) in the case where the person’s benefit period begins during the period beginning on January 3, 2021 and ending on September 25, 2021, and despite any amount fixed or determined in accordance with the regulations for that qualifying period, $5,000, or
  End of inserted block
- Insertion start (B) Insertion end Insertion start Insertion end Insertion start in any other case Insertion end , $6,000 or the amount fixed or determined in accordance with the regulations, if any, for that qualifying period, or

3 Section 152.‍11 of the Act is amended by adding the following after subsection (5):

Late claims — clause 152.‍07(1)‍(d)‍(i)‍(A)

(5.‍1) For the purposes of subsections (4) and (5), the fact that, but for clause 152.‍07(1)‍(d)‍(i)‍(A), the claimant would not have qualified to receive benefits is good cause for a delay in making a claim for those benefits.

2020, c. 12, s. 2

Canada Recovery Benefits Act

4 Subsection 3(1) of the Canada Recovery Benefits Act is amended by striking out “and” at the end of paragraph (k), by adding “and” at the end of paragraph (l) and by adding the following after paragraph (l):

Start of inserted block
(m) they were not, at any time during the two-week period, required to quarantine or isolate themselves under any order made under the Quarantine Act as a result of entering into Canada or
- (i) if they were required to do so at any time during the two-week period, the only reason for their having been outside Canada was to
  - (A) receive a medical treatment that has been certified by a medical practitioner to be necessary, or
  - (B) accompany a person who has been certified by a medical practitioner to be incapable of travelling without the assistance of an attendant and whose only reason for having been outside Canada was to receive a medical treatment that has been certified by a medical practitioner to be necessary, or
- (ii) if, as a result of entering into Canada, they were required to isolate themselves under such an order at any time during the two-week period, they are a person to whom the requirement to quarantine themselves under the order would not have applied had they not been required to isolate themselves.
  End of inserted block

5 (1) Subsection 5(1) of the Act is replaced by the following:

Attestation

5 (1) Subject to subsections (2) to Insertion start (5) Insertion end , a person must, in their application, attest that they Insertion start meet Insertion end each of the eligibility conditions referred to in paragraphs 3(1)‍(a) to Insertion start (m) Insertion end .

(2) Section 5 of the Act is amended by adding the following after subsection (4):

Exception — paragraph 3(1)‍(m)

(5) A person is not required to attest that they meet the eligibility condition referred to in paragraph 3(1)‍(m) if their application is made before January 11, 2021.

6 Subsection 10(1) of the Act is amended by striking out “and” at the end of paragraph (g), by adding “and” at the end of paragraph (h) and by adding the following after paragraph (h):

Start of inserted block
(i) they were not, at any time during the week, required to quarantine or isolate themselves under any order made under the Quarantine Act as a result of entering into Canada or
- (i) if they were required to do so at any time during the week, the only reason for their having been outside Canada was to
  - (A) receive a medical treatment that has been certified by a medical practitioner to be necessary, or
  - (B) accompany a person who has been certified by a medical practitioner to be incapable of travelling without the assistance of an attendant and whose only reason for having been outside Canada was to receive a medical treatment that has been certified by a medical practitioner to be necessary, or
- (ii) if, as a result of entering into Canada, they were required to isolate themselves under such an order at any time during the week, they are a person to whom the requirement to quarantine themselves under the order would not have applied had they not been required to isolate themselves.
  End of inserted block

7 (1) Subsection 12(1) of the Act is replaced by the following:

Attestation

12 (1) Subject to Insertion start subsections Insertion end (2) Insertion start and (3) Insertion end , a person must, in their application, attest that they meet each of the eligibility conditions referred to in paragraphs 10(1)‍(a) to Insertion start (i) Insertion end .

(2) Section 12 of the Act is amended by adding the following after subsection (2):

Exception — paragraph 10(1)‍(i)

(3) A person is not required to attest that they meet the eligibility condition referred to in paragraph 10(1)‍(i) if their application is made before January 11, 2021.

8 Subsection 17(1) of the Act is amended by striking out “and” at the end of paragraph (g), by adding “and” at the end of paragraph (h) and by adding the following after paragraph (h):

Start of inserted block
(i) they were not, at any time during the week, required to quarantine or isolate themselves under any order made under the Quarantine Act as a result of entering into Canada or
- (i) if they were required to do so at any time during the week, the only reason for their having been outside Canada was to
  - (A) receive a medical treatment that has been certified by a medical practitioner to be necessary, or
  - (B) accompany a person who has been certified by a medical practitioner to be incapable of travelling without the assistance of an attendant and whose only reason for having been outside Canada was to receive a medical treatment that has been certified by a medical practitioner to be necessary, or
- (ii) if, as a result of entering into Canada, they were required to isolate themselves under such an order at any time during the week, they are a person to whom the requirement to quarantine themselves under the order would not have applied had they not been required to isolate themselves.
  End of inserted block

9 (1) Subsection 19(1) of the Act is replaced by the following:

Attestation

19 (1) Subject to Insertion start subsections Insertion end (2) Insertion start and (3) Insertion end , a person must, in their application, attest that they meet each of the eligibility conditions referred to in paragraphs 17(1)‍(a) to Insertion start (i) Insertion end .

(2) Section 19 of the Act is amended by adding the following after subsection (2):

Exception — paragraph 17(1)‍(i)

(3) A person is not required to attest that they meet the eligibility condition referred to in paragraph 17(1)‍(i) if their application is made before January 11, 2021.

10 The Act is amended by adding the following after section 26:

Minister of Health

26.‍1 The Minister of Health may assist the Minister in verifying whether a person meets the eligibility condition referred to in paragraph 3(1)‍(m), 10(1)‍(i) or 17(1)‍(i) and may, for that purpose, disclose to the Minister personal information obtained under the Quarantine Act in respect of any person who is required to quarantine or isolate themselves under any order made under that Act as a result of entering into Canada, including

(a) their name and date of birth;
(b) the date they entered into Canada; and
(c) the date of the last day on which they are or were required to quarantine or isolate themselves under the order.
End of inserted block

R.‍S.‍, c. 1 (2nd Supp.‍)

Customs Act

2018, c. 30, s. 6

11 Paragraph 107(5)‍(i) of the Customs Act is replaced by the following:

(i) an official of the Department of Employment and Social Development solely for the purpose of administering or enforcing the Employment Insurance Act, the Old Age Security Act or Insertion start the Canada Recovery Benefits Act Insertion end , if the information relates to the movement of people into and out of Canada;

Coming into Force

October 2, 2020

12 Sections 4 to 9 are deemed to have come into force on October 2, 2020.

Published under authority of the Speaker of the House of Commons

EXPLANATORY NOTES

Employment Insurance Act

Clause 1: (1) New.

(2) Existing text of subsection 12(6):

(6) In a claimant’s benefit period, the claimant may, subject to the applicable maximums, combine weeks of benefits to which the claimant is entitled because of a reason mentioned in subsections (2) and (3), but the total number of weeks of benefits shall not exceed 50.

Clause 2: Relevant portion of subsection 152.‍07(1):

152.‍07 (1) A self-employed person qualifies for benefits if

.‍.‍.
(d) the person has had during their qualifying period an amount of self-employed earnings that is equal to or greater than the following amount:
- (i) $6,000 or the amount fixed or determined in accordance with the regulations, if any, for that qualifying period, or

Clause 3: New.

Canada Recovery Benefits Act

Clause 4: Relevant portion of subsection 3(1):

3 (1) A person is eligible for a Canada recovery benefit for any two-week period falling within the period beginning on September 27, 2020 and ending on September 25, 2021 if

Clause 5: (1) Existing text of subsection 5(1):

5 (1) Subject to subsections (2) to (4), a person must, in their application, attest that they met each of the eligibility conditions referred to in paragraphs 3(1)‍(a) to (l).

(2) New.

Clause 6: Relevant portion of subsection 10(1):

10 (1) A person is eligible for a Canada recovery sickness benefit for any week falling within the period beginning on September 27, 2020 and ending on September 25, 2021 if

Clause 7: (1) Existing text of subsection 12(1):

12 (1) Subject to subsection (2), a person must, in their application, attest that they meet each of the eligibility conditions referred to in paragraphs 10(1)‍(a) to (h).

(2) New.

Clause 8: Relevant portion of subsection 17(1):

17 (1) A person is eligible for a Canada recovery caregiving benefit for any week falling within the period beginning on September 27, 2020 and ending on September 25, 2021 if

Clause 9: (1) Existing text of subsection 19(1):

19 (1) Subject to subsection (2), a person must, in their application, attest that they meet each of the eligibility conditions referred to in paragraphs 17(1)‍(a) to (h).

(2) New.

Clause 10: New.

Customs Act

Clause 11: Relevant portion of subsection 107(5):

(5) An official may provide, allow to be provided or provide access to customs information to the following persons:

.‍.‍.
(i) an official of the Department of Employment and Social Development solely for the purpose of administering or enforcing the Employment Insurance Act or the Old Age Security Act, if the information relates to the movement of people into and out of Canada;