Finance committee  Yes. For part 2, what I can add is that it is based on the same platform. In order to be able to deliver the benefits quickly to the workers who need them, there is still an attestation-based application. Other requirements are being added. I spoke to one that was added later on for the Canada recovery benefit, which was the requirement to have filed taxes in the preceding year, but there's also, in this case, for example, the need to provide the postal code, the name of your employer and the location of work.

Finance committee  We're asking applicants to attest, and there would be, potentially, subsequent verifications.

Finance committee  That's correct. They would need to attest that they did. As well, we would be sharing information between the CRA and Service Canada to ensure eligibility with respect to not having claimed EI for the same week they are requesting the lockdown benefit.

Finance committee  This—

Finance committee  In this context, as I've mentioned, additional measures have been inserted as part of verifying eligibility for the Canada recovery benefit, and they are being transposed to the lockdown benefit. These are being verified by the Canada Revenue Agency.

Finance committee  The proposed Canada worker lockdown benefit requires information contained in tax filings in order to determine eligibility. This is one of the eligibility criteria put in place for the Canada recovery benefit, and it is also proposed to be included as part of the worker lockdown benefit.

Finance committee  Thank you for the question. The proposed lockdown benefit would really provide income support for those who are impacted, who are losing their jobs or losing their incomes as a result of public health restrictions in their region. It is for both those who would be, as I mentioned before, EI-eligible and those who would be non-EI-eligible.

Finance committee  Thank you for the question, Mr. Blaikie. The lockdown benefit, as you mentioned, is really uniquely designed to address situations where workers—including self-employed workers and independent travel agents—who were affected by the lockdown could benefit from income support for the duration of the lockdown in their region.

Finance committee  Thank you. Just to recap, the proposed legislation would provide $300 a week in income support to eligible workers, available for the duration of the lockdown order up until May 7, 2022. For the purpose of the benefits, the proposed legislation would define the lockdown order as a lockdown imposed by a competent authority that, for reasons related to COVID-19, would require the closure to the public of non-essential businesses and services for at least 14 consecutive days in a region, or would require that persons stay at home for reasons related to COVID-19 and that this obligation be enforced for 14 consecutive days in a region unless they have to go out for essential reasons.

Finance committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. My name is Catherine Demers. I am director general of employment insurance policy at Employment and Social Development Canada. I am pleased to provide an overview of Part 2 and Part 3 of the bill. I will make my remarks in English and, obviously, I will be able to answer questions in both languages.

Finance committee  Clause 293 would add proposed new section 9.1 to the CRB Act to specify that, if the week during which an EI claimant exhausts their EI regular benefits or a combination of regular and special benefits is in the middle of the CRB two-week period, then that person may receive a payment of $300 to avoid a one-week period without income, provided the person meets the other eligibility criteria of the CRB.

Finance committee  This clause would increase the maximum number of weeks for the Canada recovery caregiving benefit from 38 to 42, with four extra weeks available, June 19 to July 18. These four additional weeks would be at the same current rate of $500 per week. This is accompanied by a corresponding amendment to the Canada Labour Code, which we will talk about in a moment.

Finance committee  Absolutely, it's my pleasure. If you agree, I will do clause 295, and Ms. Moran will proceed with the other clauses, which relate to the Canada Labour Code.

Finance committee  Clause 295, which is also in the context of amendments to the Canada Recovery Benefits Act, proposes to amend the act by adding a new regulatory-making authority to extend the eligibility period for benefits under the CRB Act up to November 20, 2021, should they be needed, as announced in the budget.

Finance committee  This clause requires applicants to attest that they meet each of the eligibility conditions, including the new ones introduced in clause 289.