Canada's Wage Earner Protection Program Act Amended

The Wage Earner Protection Program (the "Program") is a government-sponsored program in Canada that provides the higher of $3000 or an amount equal to four times an eligible employee's maximum weekly insurable earnings under the Employment Insurance Act (Canada) to compensate such employees for unpaid wages where those employees are owed wages and lose their jobs as a result of their employer becoming bankrupt or becoming subject to a receivership. On December 15, 2011 Bill C-13, the Keeping Canada's Economy and Jobs Growing Act, amended the Wage Earner Protection Program Act (Canada) (the "WEPPA"). The amendments to the WEPPA took effect retroactively to June 5, 2011. The amendments expand certain periods for which "eligible wages" can be recovered, as described further below.