Kenora MP Eric Melillo is proposing a change to the Canada Emergency Response Benefit to get people back to work.
The Conservative member explains that right now, the CERB means some people would rather not go back.
“As soon as you earn up to a certain threshold, you lose all of your CERB benefits. So there’s actually a bit of a disincentive there, where people will be penalized for going back to work,” Melillo says.
Melillo says under the plan, those who lost their jobs would continue to receive their full $2,000 Canada Emergency Response Benefit, but as businesses reopen, select workers would receive a top-up.
“Workers who make between $1,000 and $5,000 per month would qualify for a CERB top-up–that would be gradually phased out–by 50 cents for every extra dollar earned over the $1,000 threshold.”
For a part-time server making $2,000 per month, the Back to Work Bonus would result in a top-up of $1,500, for a total monthly income of $3,500.
Melillo says the Conservatives have been proposing constructive solutions to make relief programs more flexible and generous.
“We think this is a very reasonable solution to a problem that we are seeing. We want people to get back to work once it’s safe to do so while maintaining support for those who are still out of work through no fault of their own.”
