International travellers cannot access recovery benefits during mandatory quarantine

FEDERAL Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough, will be proposing legislation so that, retroactive to January 3, 2021, all international travellers who need to quarantine upon return to Canada, including people returning from vacation, visiting loved ones, and attending to real estate matters abroad, will not be eligible to receive support from any of the Canada Recovery Benefits for the period of their mandatory quarantine.

Individuals who are exempt from the mandatory quarantine requirements under the Quarantine Act, such as health care workers who need to cross the border for work, will be eligible to apply following their return to the country.

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) will update the application process for the three recovery benefits on Monday, January 11. For claims covering a period beginning on or after January 3, 2021, applicants will need to indicate whether they were self-isolating or in quarantine due to international travel. Over the coming weeks, the CRA will delay processing claims for individuals who are self-isolating or in quarantine because of international travel until the legislative process is complete to ensure those who receive the benefit meet the latest eligibility criteria.

Qualtrough said on Monday: “The Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit was created to provide workers with a paid sick leave option. We did this so that workers did not have to choose between going to work while impacted by COVID-19 and putting food on the table. The benefit was not intended to encourage Canadians to disobey public health and international travel guidelines.”

She added: “We have heard Canadians and are tightening the eligibility criteria for our COVID recovery benefits. We will ensure that these measures have no unintended consequences and will target individuals who travel for discretionary and non-essential purposes. This is not the time to travel abroad, and if you make the choice to do so, you will not be eligible for these benefits during your mandatory quarantine period.”

Minister of National Revenue, Diane Lebouthillier, added: “The Canada Revenue Agency remains committed to delivering the Government of Canada’s emergency benefits to support Canadians in the fight against COVID-19. Today’s announcement will ensure that the Canada Recovery Benefits support workers who need these benefits the most, not those violating public health advice on international travel.”

Quick Facts

• The CRSB provides income support to Canadian workers who are unable to work at least 50 percent of their scheduled work week because they are sick, under quarantine or must self-isolate due to COVID-19. It is also for Canadians who are more susceptible to COVID-19 due to an underlying condition.
• Over the coming weeks, the CRA will delay processing claims for individuals who are self-isolating or in quarantine because of international travel until the legislative process is complete to ensure those who receive the benefit meet the latest eligibility criteria.
• As of January 3, 2021, the number of unique applicants that have accessed the recovery benefits are:
  • 1,445,530 for the Canada Recovery Benefit;
  • 277,570 for the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit; and
  • 299,090 for the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit.
• Individuals must meet all eligibility criteria for the Canada Recovery Benefits including the requirement to be residing in Canada and be present in Canada for the period for which the individual is making the claim.
• With the CRSB, eligible Canadians can receive $500 ($450 after taxes withheld) for a one-week period. If their situation continues past one week, they can apply again for up to a total of two weeks between September 27, 2020 and September 25, 2021.
• As of January 7, 2021, air travellers five years of age or older are required to present a negative COVID-19 test result to the airline prior to boarding international flights bound for Canada. Once they arrive they must:
  • Isolate for 14 days if they have symptoms of COVID-19 or if they know they have COVID-19;
  • Quarantine for 14 days if they do not have symptoms; and
  • Comply with mandatory isolation or quarantine requirements – failure to comply will result in fines, penalties or imprisonment.