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The federal government is looking into whether travellers who went abroad during the holidays and will miss work in order to self-isolate should be eligible for pandemic relief benefits.
First reported by La Presse and the Journal de Montréal, the issue caused many to question Saturday how those who travelled against the government’s recommendation — whether for essential or
non-essential trips — could now be eligible for financial compensation.
The newspapers reported people who went abroad during the holidays would be eligible for the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) upon returning if unable to work because they’re asked to
self-isolate.
Those eligible for the benefit can receive $500 for up to two weeks if they’ve either contracted COVID-19 or have been asked to self-isolate and can’t work as a result.
In an email response sent to the Montreal Gazette on Saturday, federal Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough said the government is “actively looking at all available options to address this
issue.”
The minister reiterated the Canadian government has strongly advised against any non-essential travel in recent weeks.
“The Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit was never intended to incentivize or encourage Canadians to not follow public health or international travel guidelines,” Qualtrough said.
Qualtrough added the benefit’s purpose has always been to help workers without paid sick leave, “so that workers did not have to choose between going to work and putting food on the table.”
People need to meet different criteria to be eligible for the benefit, including being Canadian residents, being in the country when they receive it and having not received paid leave from
their employers during the same period.
Federal and provincial governments have asked anyone who left the country during the holidays to self-isolate upon return.
Canada has also announced all passengers on flights entering the country will soon be required to have a negative COVID-19 test.