Changes to EI rules will allow some three million Canadians to switch from the Canada Emergency Benefit (CEP) to employment insurance plan almost smoothly, at the end of September.
However, between a million and a million and a half of unemployed, who became unemployed because of the pandemic, will not qualify for employment insurance. For them, the federal government came up with a new Canada Economic Recovery Benefit (PCRE). But this, like the 10 days of sick leave paid by Ottawa and the benefit to care for a dependent, will depend on the passage of the Speech from the Throne.
Many see it as a political maneuver to force the hand of the opposition which, if it brought down the government in September, would be odious to deny federal aid to millions of Canadians struggling with the pandemic.
Asked about it during a visit to Brockville, Ontario, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau simply repeated that the prorogation did not change the payments of the PCU.
This aspect of prorogation will in no way affect the aid we are currently sending and will continue to send to Canadians.
The PCU will end September 27.
A strategic timeline
If the Prime Minister had waited a few weeks before proroguing Parliament, elected officials would have had time to pass laws to implement the three new benefits.
It was by answering another question on the accumulation of deficits that Mr. Trudeau opened his game somewhat.
We are going to put in place measures, not to return to the status quo, but to rebuild better. It will be an ambitious plan for the future of the country […] There will undoubtedly be important debates [au Parlement] with parties who believe we shouldn’t do the same
, he said, proving those who say that these three new benefits will serve the Liberals as political ammunition.
Thursday evening, the leader of the Bloc Québécois, while applauding the announced measures, warned against their use for partisan purposes. Yves-François Blanchet relayed this message again on his Twitter thread on Friday.
This legislation should have been passed before Parliament prorogued. I warn the Prime Minister against the temptation to hold workers and businesses hostage to force passage of the Speech from the Throne
, he wrote.
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