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Results: 46 - 60 of 74
Frank Vermaeten
View Frank Vermaeten Profile
Frank Vermaeten
2021-02-23 16:05
I'm happy to answer. I don't have a statistic on that. The eligibility rules did not change significantly, going from CERB to the CRB. Of course, there are the three benefits: the CRB, the sickness benefit and the caregiver benefit.
Those rules changed. It was a slightly different program, but generally speaking, there was not a big change in eligibility.
View Raquel Dancho Profile
CPC (MB)
Thank you, Chair, and thank you to the witnesses for being here today.
My first few questions are for Mr. Vermaeten.
It was touched on a little bit in the previous panel by my colleague, but I want to talk to you about the CRB-EI issue. Just for folks who aren't aware, there seems to be a bit of an issue. You mentioned it's with only a few people, but for folks who aren't eligible for EI to actually get the CRB, there seems to be some sort of tech issue at CRA that allows them to roll into that program. I think you were addressing this in the last round, and said that there weren't that many people but it was happening.
Do you have a concrete idea of how many people are impacted by this sort of technical issue?
Frank Vermaeten
View Frank Vermaeten Profile
Frank Vermaeten
2021-02-23 16:11
I can certainly get you a number. It's quite small. My guess would be it's more in the low thousands when one takes the multi-million number of people who are applying. I can certainly give you a simple example.
View Raquel Dancho Profile
CPC (MB)
That's all right. I have a couple of examples that have come to my attention, which is why I'm asking someone to see when the issue will be addressed. You have a timeline. Are you currently working on addressing this problem?
Frank Vermaeten
View Frank Vermaeten Profile
Frank Vermaeten
2021-02-23 16:12
We absolutely are working on it. We created a task force and we created a special unit with ESDC to be able to deal with those questions, so if people are denied the CRB they can call ESDC and essentially unblock that piece of data that prevents them from being able to get the CRB.
View Wayne Long Profile
Lib. (NB)
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Good afternoon, colleagues.
Ms. Mahboubi and Mr. Corak, thank you for your presentations. They were very interesting.
Ms. Mahboubi, I want to talk to you first, with respect to CERB. We all know that CERB was created to give income in the quickest way possible to those who lost employment during the pandemic. I think we can all look back really remarkably with a sense of pride at how quickly it did get out to so many people.
As CERB ended, obviously there was a transition to the simplified EI program for those who were eligible, and then obviously, the CRB.
In your opinion, what would have been the consequence of continuing the CERB and not relaunching a simplified and more generous EI program?
Parisa Mahboubi
View Parisa Mahboubi Profile
Parisa Mahboubi
2021-02-23 16:53
Thank you for the opportunity to speak about that topic.
The C.D. Howe Institute published, through commentaries and intelligence memos, and talked about why it was really important to have that transition, or if we wanted to extend CERB, we needed to reform that program, because when CERB was created and introduced, the purpose was to keep people inside their houses. The purpose was for people to stop working, stop doing other things and stay at home to keep people safe.
However, as the economy and businesses started to reopen, there was a problem with CERB. It didn't create an incentive to look for employment, because as I mentioned, the majority of those individuals who lost their jobs and had seen a reduction in hours were mostly low-income individuals. Therefore, CERB was a program that was quite desirable for these individuals.
In receiving CERB without being required to look for employment, of course, it's going to create some challenges for businesses to find the right individuals to work for them. There was no requirement to look for employment.
If you wanted to stick to CERB, it had to be reformed. It needed to take into consideration several elements of the EI program. Of course, moving to the EI program was the better option when the government was ready to shift that big portion of individuals into the program.
View Raquel Dancho Profile
CPC (MB)
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Long, for your opening remarks. We greatly appreciate your being here with us today.
I'm wondering if your department is considering an extension of the CRB, given the substantial number of Canadians who are about to reach their 26-week maximum benefit next month.
Andrew Brown
View Andrew Brown Profile
Andrew Brown
2021-02-18 15:42
Thank you, Benoît.
Thanks for the question.
I'm Andrew Brown, the director general for employment insurance policy. That also includes policy for the Canada recovery benefit.
What I can tell you right now is that we are monitoring very closely the use of those benefits. We know that, since the end of September, when people moved from the CERB to EI regular benefits and others would have started to receive the Canada recovery benefit, they could use up the 26 weeks of benefits available as early as the end of March, so we are continuing to monitor use.
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