COVID-19 Response Measures Act

An Act relating to certain measures in response to COVID-19

This bill was last introduced in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session, which ended in August 2021.

Sponsor

Carla Qualtrough  Liberal

Status

This bill has received Royal Assent and is now law.

Summary

This is from the published bill. The Library of Parliament often publishes better independent summaries.

Part 1 enacts the Canada Recovery Benefits Act to authorize the payment of the Canada recovery benefit, the Canada recovery sickness benefit and the Canada recovery caregiving benefit to support Canada’s economic recovery in response to COVID-19. It also makes consequential amendments to the Income Tax Act and the Income Tax Regulations.
Part 2 amends the Canada Labour Code to, among other things,
(a) amend the reasons for which an employee is entitled to take leave related to COVID-19, and the number of weeks of that leave that an employee may take for each of those reasons; and
(b) give the Governor in Council the power, until September 25, 2021, to make regulations in certain circumstances to provide that any requirements or conditions, set out in certain provisions of Part III of that Act, respecting certificates issued by a health care practitioner do not apply and to provide for alternative requirements and conditions.
This Part also makes related amendments to the COVID-19 Emergency Response Act to ensure that employees may continue to take leave related to COVID-19 until September 25, 2021. Finally, it makes related amendments to regulations and contains coordinating amendments.
Part 3 amends the Public Health Events of National Concern Payments Act to limit, as of October 1, 2020, the payments that may be made out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund under that Act to those in respect of specified measures related to COVID-19, up to specified amounts. It also postpones the repeal of that Act until December 31, 2020.

Elsewhere

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

Votes

Sept. 30, 2020 Passed 2nd reading of Bill C-4, An Act relating to certain measures in response to COVID-19

COVID-19 Response Measures ActGovernment Orders

September 30th, 2020 / 1:55 a.m.
See context

Liberal

The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès) Liberal Alexandra Mendes

Pursuant to order made Wednesday, September 23, we will now proceed to a recorded vote.

Call in the members.

COVID-19 Response Measures ActGovernment Orders

September 30th, 2020 / 2:25 a.m.
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Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

The list of members voting by video conference has now been established for use by the table.

(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)

Vote #6

COVID-19 Response Measures ActGovernment Orders

September 30th, 2020 / 3:05 a.m.
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Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

I declare the motion carried.

COVID-19 Response Measures ActGovernment Orders

September 30th, 2020 / 3:05 a.m.
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Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

The member for Richmond—Arthabaska on a point of order.

COVID-19 Response Measures ActGovernment Orders

September 30th, 2020 / 3:05 a.m.
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Conservative

Alain Rayes Conservative Richmond—Arthabaska, QC

Mr. Speaker, I would like some clarification. We saw many members turn their cameras off during the vote. It seems to me that the rules are extremely clear, and I am sure that your staff, the IT people, can check on that. You have already pointed out this situation several times. One day, a vote might bring down the government. There are important decisions to be made. It seems to me that the rules are extremely clear. I would like you to clarify the situation for us so that we can be sure to follow the rules we were given.

COVID-19 Response Measures ActGovernment Orders

September 30th, 2020 / 3:05 a.m.
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Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

As I mentioned earlier, it is very important that members' cameras remain on for the duration of the vote. Members' cameras must be on from start to finish.

I will finish and we will then proceed to points of order.

The bill stands referred to a committee of the whole.

Pursuant to an order made earlier today, Bill C-4, An Act relating to certain measures in response to COVID-19, is deemed considered in committee of the whole, deemed reported without amendment, deemed concurred in at report stage, deemed read a third time and passed.

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

COVID-19 Response Measures ActGovernment Orders

September 30th, 2020 / 3:05 a.m.
See context

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

The hon. member for Richmond—Arthabaska on a point of order.