Expanded Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit – A Toronto Tax Lawyer Analysis

Introduction - what is the Expanded Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit

As new strains of COVID-19 continue to impact the lives of people in Canada and across the world, new lockdown measures have been implemented by various local governments in Canada. Many Canadians found themselves in situations where they are unable to work due to COVID-19 related lockdowns. The Canadian Federal government instituted a new COVID-19 benefits measure by expanding the Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit.

This benefit will provide $300 a week in income support to eligible workers who are directly affected by a COVID-19-related public health lockdown, and who have lost 50% or more of their income as a result. In this article we will further discuss the mechanism of the expanded Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit as well as some of its tax implications.