‘It will help us bounce back as businesses start to reopen’
The federal government is extending support for furloughed employees under the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) program by four weeks, from Aug. 30 to Sept. 26.
This means that employers who qualify for the CEWS during the COVID-19 pandemic can continue to claim up to $847 per week to support remuneration for each of their furloughed workers.
Since its launch, the program has helped over three million Canadian workers keep their jobs, says Chrystia Freeland, deputy prime minister and minister of finance.
“This is not only helping Canada’s economy stay strong, it will also help us bounce back as businesses start to reopen.”
Further details will be announced in the coming weeks, says the government.
The announcement came less than a month after Ottawa announced that the CEWS program would continue until Dec. 19, 2020, providing good news for employers, but also greater complexity.
Last week, the Canada Revenue Agency opened applications for Period 5 – the first period of the enhanced CEWS program.
The government has also released an updated CEWS calculator to help employers with the process.
