The Government of Canada is taking immediate, significant and decisive action through Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan to support Canadians and protect jobs during the global COVID-19 pandemic, and to better position them for a strong economic recovery.

The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) has supported more than 3 million Canadians since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, providing support to businesses so they can keep their workers, including furloughed workers, on the payroll.

To help support workers and provide certainty for employers, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, today announced that the government proposes to extend the current treatment of furloughed employees under the CEWS program by 4 weeks – from August 30 to September 26.  This would mean that employers who qualify for the CEWS would be able to continue to claim up to a maximum benefit of $847 per week to support remuneration for each of their furloughed workers. Further details about the calculation of CEWS for furloughed workers for remaining periods of the program will be announced in the coming weeks.

The government continues to assess and respond to the impacts of COVID-19 and stands ready to take additional actions as needed to stabilize the economy.