Grande Prairie-Mackenzie MP Chris Warkentin (right) during his 2019 victory speech at the Holiday Inn and Conference Centre in Grande Prairie (EverythingGP file photo)

By Shaun Penner

Back to Work Bonus

Warkentin, Conservatives pushing for CERB reform to help those recently returning to work

Jul 1, 2020 | 5:30 AM

Grande Prairie-Mackenzie MP Chris Warkentin and his fellow Conservative Members of Parliament are calling for the federal government to establish a plan to incentivize getting those who were laid off during COVID-19 back to work without being penalized.

The Conservatives have brought forward the proposal of a “Back to Work Bonus”, which would provide those who have recently gone back to work that were receiving the $2,000 per month Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) a scaled bridge payment to help make up for any payment gaps going back to work might create.

Warkentin says he has heard from many residents that are going back to work on a part-time basis or on reduced hours that, financially, staying on CERB makes more sense.

“So, we have been pushing the government to ensure that people don’t make the decision to remain on CERB because it is more beneficial because they’ll make more money on that program,” said Warkentin. “We believe that there needs to be a transition provision to ensure that people are encouraged, and not penalized, for going back to work.”

The plan would see workers recently returning to work that are making between $1,000 and $5,000 per month qualify for a CERB top-up, phased down by 50 cents for every dollar that is made over that $1,000 threshold. An example would be for a person making $2,000 per month, the Back to Work Bonus would top-up their pay by $1,500 a month.

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Currently, CERB payments are halted once an individual makes $1,000 per month.

Warkentin says that de-incentivizes some people from fully returning to work.

“There are some employees saying, ‘Keep me under the $1,000 threshold, don’t give me that extra overtime work or that extra shift’,” said Warkentin. “There are deterrents that are built-in and we want to just make sure that we eliminate all the deterrents, all the things that would cause somebody not to fully engage back into the workforce.”

He adds that a key factor in relaunching the Peace Region, Alberta and Canadian economies from the COVID-19-induced downturn is getting people back to work, which in turn can help businesses operate at full staffing levels.

“It should always pay for Canadians to work. As we all contribute to Alberta’s recovery, it is imperative that workers and entrepreneurs should not be penalized for picking up a shift or gradually returning to their job.”