Today, Finance Minister Bill Morneau provided further details on the eligibility criteria for businesses to access the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS). These details will ensure that the proposed CEWS meets the government’s objective to support the employers that are hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and protect the jobs Canadians depend on during these difficult times.

The proposed CEWS would provide a strong incentive for employers to pay employees who have been sent home for health and safety reasons or due to lack of work. It would also enable employers to retain employees who are still on the payroll and rehire workers who have been previously laid off.