Bill C-20 (Historical)

An Act respecting further COVID-19 measures

This bill is from the 43rd Parliament, 1st session, which ended in September 2020.

Sponsor

Status

This bill has received Royal Assent and is now law.

Summary

This is from the published bill. The Library of Parliament has also written a full legislative summary of the bill.

Part 1 amends the Income Tax Act to revise the eligibility criteria for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) in order to support those employers hardest hit by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). It also extends the CEWS to November 21, 2020, with the ability to extend the CEWS by regulation to no later than December 31, 2020, and provides a revised calculation of the CEWS for the fifth and subsequent qualifying periods. Finally, it makes amendments to the Income Tax Act and the Income Tax Regulations to ensure that the CEWS operates effectively.
Part 2 amends the Pension Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs Act, the Children’s Special Allowances Act and the Veterans Well-being Act to authorize the disclosure of information for the purpose of the administration of a program to provide a one-time payment to persons with disabilities for reasons related to COVID-19. It also amends the Income Tax Act to authorize the use by officials, or disclosure to Government of Canada officials, of taxpayer information solely for the purpose of that one-time payment. Finally, it provides that any amount payable in relation to the administration of the program to provide that one-time payment is to be paid out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
Part 3 enacts the Time Limits and Other Periods Act (COVID-19) which addresses the need for flexibility in relation to certain time limits and other periods that are established by or under Acts of Parliament and that are difficult or impossible to meet as a result of the exceptional circumstances produced by COVID-19. In particular, the enactment
(a) suspends, for a maximum of six months, certain time limits in relation to proceedings before courts;
(b) temporarily enables ministers to suspend or extend time limits and to extend other periods in relation to specified Acts and regulations for a maximum of six months; and
(c) provides for the transparent exercise of the powers it confers and for Parliamentary oversight over the exercise of those powers.

Elsewhere

All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.

Bill numbers are reused for different bills each new session. Perhaps you were looking for one of these other C-20s:

C-20 (2026) Build Canada Homes Act

C-20 (2022) Law Public Complaints and Review Commission Act

C-20 (2021) An Act to amend the Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador Additional Fiscal Equalization Offset Payments Act

C-20 (2016) Law Appropriation Act No. 3, 2016-17

Debate Summary

This is a computer-generated summary of the speeches below. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.

Bill C-20 extends the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, broadens eligibility, provides payments to Canadians with disabilities, and adjusts legal time limits, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Liberal

Enhances wage subsidy program: Bill C-20 extends the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy to December 2020, broadens eligibility, and introduces a two-tiered system with a base and top-up subsidy to protect more jobs and support recovery.
Provides disability financial support: The bill enables a one-time, non-taxable $600 payment for 1.7 million eligible Canadians with disabilities, helping cover increased pandemic-related costs for essential services and support.
Adjusts legal and regulatory deadlines: Bill C-20 temporarily suspends or extends statutory and legislative time limits in federal acts and regulations for up to six months, ensuring fairness during pandemic-related disruptions.

Conservative

Wage subsidy changes are overly complex: The party criticizes the proposed wage subsidy changes for their excessive complexity, which will create confusion, increase administrative burden, and necessitate expensive external expertise for businesses.
Proposes back-to-work bonus for CERB: The party advocates for a "back-to-work bonus" to replace the current CERB cliff, allowing workers to gradually phase out benefits by losing only 50 cents for every dollar earned over $1,000.
Criticizes government over ethical scandals: The party criticizes the government's ethical conduct, particularly the WE Charity scandal, accusing it of a lack of transparency, obstructing accountability, and using the bill as a distraction.
Identifies gaps in support and economic strategy: The party highlights missed opportunities in the bill to support key sectors like agriculture, oil and gas, and seasonal tourism, and criticizes the government's overall economic strategy as unsustainable.

NDP

Critiques government's minimal action: The NDP criticizes the Liberal government for consistently doing the "minimum possible," offering "empty words" instead of concrete action, and being slow to help vulnerable Canadians while quickly assisting friends or corporations.
Demands universal and inclusive support: The party advocates for comprehensive support, including extending and increasing CERB, ensuring all Canadians with disabilities receive help, improving EI, and providing federal funding for affordable child care and education.
Addresses systemic racism and gender inequality: The NDP highlights the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on women, demanding child care and addressing gender inequalities. They also call for concrete action against systemic racism in policing and other institutions.
Criticizes bill C-20 and current policies: While acknowledging minor improvements, the NDP criticizes Bill C-20 for its restrictive definitions and for leaving too many vulnerable people behind, especially those with disabilities, and for the inadequate national leadership on long-term care.

Bloc

Supports bill for Quebecers: The Bloc supports the bill as it benefits Quebec, particularly through improved aid for persons with disabilities and a scalable wage subsidy accessible to seasonal businesses.
Adjustments needed for CERB: The party criticizes the CERB for disincentivizing work and for not addressing fraud. They advocate for its adjustment, scalability, or integration into the EI program.
Condemns undemocratic process: The Bloc condemns the government's "sham procedure" for passing the bill, arguing it bypasses proper parliamentary study and consultation, leading to potential flaws.
Calls for ethical reforms: The party believes political parties should not receive the wage subsidy and highlights missed opportunities to extend EI sickness benefits, support "guardian angels," and address tax havens.

Green

Supports wage subsidies but raises concerns: The Green Party applauds government wage support for Canadians but questions the system's complexity, fearing retroactive penalties for businesses acting in good faith.
Calls for better disability support: The party welcomes the one-time payment for persons with disabilities, but criticizes the five-month delay and the amount as insufficient, urging more robust support for vulnerable Canadians.
Advocates for parliamentary collaboration: The party regrets partisan politics, calling for increased collaboration, respect, and human decency among members to ensure constituents' needs are met, especially during the pandemic.

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An Act Respecting Further COVID-19 MeasuresGovernment Orders

July 21st, 2020 / 3:05 p.m.

The Speaker Anthony Rota

(Motion agreed to, bill read the second time, deemed considered in committee of the whole, deemed reported without amendment, deemed concurred in at report stage, deemed read a third time and passed)

An Act Respecting Further COVID-19 MeasuresGovernment Orders

July 21st, 2020 / 3:05 p.m.

The Speaker Anthony Rota

Accordingly, pursuant to order made on Tuesday, May 26, this House stands adjourned until tomorrow at noon.

(The House adjourned at 3:09 p.m.)