#canada recovery sickness benefit

[shosiblog]

What If I Don’t Have Enough Paid Leave Accumulated for Maternity Leave?

Maternity leave is a crucial time for new mothers to rest, recover, and bond with their newborns. However, not all employees have the luxury of having enough paid leave accumulated by the time they need to take maternity leave. If you find yourself in this situation, it can be stressful, but there are several strategies and options you can explore to manage your leave and ensure financial stability.

In this blog, we’ll explore what you can do if you don’t have enough paid leave accumulated and how to navigate this challenging time.

1. Understand Your Employer’s Maternity Leave Policy

The first step is to thoroughly review your company’s maternity leave policy. Some companies provide separate maternity leave benefits that are not tied to your accumulated paid leave. If your employer offers paid maternity leave as a stand-alone benefit, you may not need to rely on your accumulated sick days or vacation time. If paid maternity leave is not part of your employer’s benefits package, you’ll need to explore other options.

Check with your HR department for details on:

The amount of paid maternity leave offered.

Whether you can supplement unpaid leave with accumulated sick days or vacation time.

The company’s policy on unpaid leave or extended leave.

2. Combine Paid Time Off (PTO)

If you don’t have enough maternity leave benefits, consider combining other forms of paid leave, such as:

Sick leave: Some companies allow employees to use their sick days as part of their maternity leave, especially if the pregnancy or postpartum period involves medical complications.

Vacation days: If you have vacation days saved up, you may be able to use them to extend your paid leave.

Personal days: Some companies offer personal days in addition to sick leave and vacation days, which can also be used during maternity leave.

By using a combination of these paid time off options, you may be able to extend your leave with partial or full pay.

3. Explore Short-Term Disability Benefits

Many employers offer short-term disability insurance, which can be used to cover a portion of your maternity leave. Short-term disability benefits typically cover a percentage of your salary (usually between 50% and 80%) for a set number of weeks during your recovery from childbirth.

Check with your HR department to see if you’re eligible for short-term disability and what the process is for applying. The key points to consider include:

The waiting period before benefits start.

The percentage of salary covered by the benefits.

How long the benefits last.

4. Consider Unpaid Leave

If you’ve exhausted all your paid leave options, unpaid leave may be your only remaining choice. While unpaid leave won’t provide financial support, it still guarantees job protection in many cases.

In countries like the United States, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) guarantees up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for qualifying employees. However, this option may only be available if you meet certain eligibility requirements, such as working for a company with 50 or more employees and having worked for the employer for at least 12 months.

5. Check Government Programs for Maternity Leave Benefits

Depending on where you live, your country may offer government-funded maternity leave benefits, even if your employer doesn’t provide paid leave. These programs vary from country to country but often offer a portion of your salary during maternity leave.

For example:

Canada offers paid parental benefits through Employment Insurance, which can cover up to 55% of your salary for a certain number of weeks.

The UK provides Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP), which covers up to 90% of your average weekly earnings for the first 6 weeks, followed by a reduced rate for up to 33 more weeks.

Check with your local government to find out what maternity leave benefits are available and how to apply.

6. Budget and Plan for Unpaid Leave

If you find that you’ll need to take unpaid leave, it’s important to budget carefully for this period. Start planning as early as possible by saving money and cutting unnecessary expenses. You may also consider:

Reducing non-essential spending: Create a budget that prioritizes essentials like housing, food, and healthcare.

Using savings: If you have a savings fund, this is a good time to dip into it to cover living expenses during your maternity leave.

Exploring temporary financial assistance: Some banks and financial institutions offer low-interest loans or payment deferrals for maternity-related expenses.

7. Speak to Your Employer About Flexible Work Arrangements

If you’re concerned about the financial strain of unpaid maternity leave, consider discussing flexible work arrangements with your employer. You might be able to negotiate:

Remote work: Working from home for part of your maternity leave.

Part-time hours: Returning to work part-time or on a reduced schedule after your leave.

Staggered leave: Taking your maternity leave in smaller increments rather than all at once.

These arrangements can help you maintain some income while still allowing time for recovery and bonding with your baby.

Conclusion

Not having enough paid leave accumulated for maternity leave can be a challenge, but it’s not insurmountable. By exploring your employer’s policies, combining PTO, using short-term disability, and considering government programs, you can manage your leave and still take the time you need. Planning and budgeting will be key to navigating this important period in your life.

How Long Should I Wear a Maternity Belt After Delivery in a Day?

Postpartum recovery is an important phase for new mothers. Wearing a maternity belt can offer essential support. Learn more about how long you should wear a maternity belt after delivery by clicking here!

[atlanticcanada]

Ontario man shocked to repay $12K in CERB payments years after using them

An Ontario man says he’s been asked to pay back $12,000 of his COVID-19 benefits years after he used them.

“I’m between a rock and a hard place. I don’t have that money now. It’s long gone,” Eduardo Tso told CTV News Toronto.

Tso said he worked in retail during the COVID-19 pandemic. Even though he worked during that time, Tso’s hours and shifts were reduced, which he thought made him eligible to apply for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB).

But the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) told him he earned more than $1,000 of employment or self-employment during the payment periods he applied for CERB.

Tso was told by the CRA that he was not eligible for CERB, and that he needs to pay back $12,000.

"This has to be some kind of mistake. This is like three years ago. How can you possibly tell me I owe this money now when things are so expensive and interest rates are so high,” Tso said.

In a rush to help Canadians during the pandemic, the federal government sent out billions of dollars in CERB payments, but many Canadians who received those payments weren't eligible.

Canada’s auditor general estimated about $4.6 billion in pandemic benefits went to people it shouldn't have, and the CRA has been trying to collect that money over the past three years.

Almost 800,000 Canadians have repaid $1.4 billion in COVID benefits and the government recovered almost $240 million by holding back tax refunds.

Earlier this year, in January, CTV News Toronto spoke with a Toronto actor who also took CERB payments.

Alain D’Amours was shocked when he was told he had to pay back $23,700.

"You gave me the money to help me survive. You gave the money, it is not a loan, right now it feels like I borrowed from you and now I have to pay it back with interest," D’Amours said.

The federal government wants to collect overpayments from all its COVID-19 benefit programs, including the following:

Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)

Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB)

Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB)

Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB)

Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB)

Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit (CWLB)

According to the CRA, anyone facing financial hardship can arrange to pay back benefits over time.

Tso said he lives in his sister’s basement and declaring bankruptcy may be his only option.

"I think I qualified for this and I think the $12,000 should be completely erased. There is no way I can pay this money back,” he said. 

from CTV News - Atlantic https://ift.tt/gBCF0UA

[worklabournewsresearch]

Why Billions in Federal Sick-Leave Benefits Have Gone Untapped

"Billions of dollars in federal sick-leave benefits have gone unclaimed and unspent since the program was launched in the fall, even as coronavirus cases have surged across the country. According to data released this week by the Canada Revenue Agency, just $391.4-million was paid out under the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit as of March 28, less than one-sixth of the $2.6-billion that the government projected the program would cost for fiscal 2020-21 ended March 31 in its November economic statement. ... The CRSB pays $500 a week, or $450 after withholding taxes, to eligible workers who are self-isolating because of the coronavirus, and who missed at least half of their scheduled work hours. But a raft of restrictions, most notably benefits that fall well short of replacing lost income for the vast majority of workers, have hobbled the effectiveness of the program."

"'This has been a total failure,' said University of Waterloo economics professor Mikal Skuterud. He noted that in February, 83.2 per cent of paid employees had usual gross weekly earnings in excess of $500 – meaning that more than four in five workers would see their income fall if they used federal sick leave. Nearly as big an issue is the timing of that relatively paltry compensation. Workers have to apply retroactively, a change from the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, which paid out benefits at the start of a qualifying period. The result is that low-paid workers with no savings face the choice between waiting days or weeks for payment – or going to work sick."

"Labour force statistics point to a schism between workers with employer-provided sick days and those without, Prof. Skuterud said. Absenteeism rates for labourers in unionized workplaces have nearly doubled since the pandemic began, an indication that workers are able to use employer-provided sick days, he said. ... However, non-unionized workplaces are much less likely to have such benefits, leaving those workers entirely dependent on the federal sick-leave program. Tellingly, absenteeism rates for labourers in those workplaces have actually declined marginally since the start of the pandemic, showing that those workers are not using Ottawa’s sick-leave program."

The Globe and Mail, April 9, 2021: "Why billions in federal sick-leave benefits have gone untapped," by Patrick Brethour

Government of Canada, updated April 4, 2021: Applications to date: Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB)

Photo Source: Spratt, A. (2020). Woman coughing [Photograph]. Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/_S0XzuaZLas

[allthecanadianpolitics]

The Trudeau Liberals sought Friday to get ahead of a looming benefits panic, announcing plans to add extra weeks of income support for unemployed workers and parents at home with children because of the pandemic.

The government plans to add 12 weeks of eligibility to the $500-a-week Canada Recovery Benefit and the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit, raising the maximum number of weeks available to 38 from 26.

The federal sickness benefit will be expanded to four weeks from two so workers can stay home if they’re feeling ill or have to isolate because of COVID-19.

Employment insurance eligibility is also promised to be stretched to allow people to receive up to 50 weeks of benefits, rather than 26, for any claims filed since late September.

Continue Reading.

Tagging: @politicsofcanada

[caainhurst]

JUNE 1, 2021

Cities and towns are opening back up after their coronavirus-induced shutdowns. Job vacancies have surged to historic highs. Millions of Americans report that they are looking for work. Yet employers are struggling to fill available positions, leaving them with no option but to shorten their business’s hours of operation and pay overtime. Payroll growth has proved lackluster.

The familiar story about what’s happening goes like this: America is in the midst of a labor shortage. Businesses are unable to find enough workers, in no small part because of the country’s generous unemployment-insurance payments and repeated stimulus checks. This is a nightmare for growing companies, a trend that’s slowing the economic recovery, and a problem that policy must solve. Workers are “dampening what should be a stronger jobs market,” the Chamber of Commerce said, calling the situation a “very real threat” to the recovery. In response, 23 states and counting have slashed unemployment-insurance payments.

But what has rapidly become conventional wisdom is not necessarily wisdom at all. The labor shortage, so far as it exists, seems to have many complicated causes. Even if benefits are among them, policy makers should not rush in to help ensure a flood of low-wage workers for America’s businesses. As the pandemic abates and the economy strengthens, why not focus on creating good ones?

The evidence of a labor shortage comes both from hard numbers and from soft anecdotes. In terms of the hard numbers: Lots of Americans want work. Roughly 10 million Americans are looking for a job, and the unemployment rate is an uncomfortably high 6.1 percent. At the same time, lots of businesses want to hire. Employers report that they have 8.1 million positions open, the largest number in recorded history. Yet the number of Americans taking a job remains subdued: Payrolls grew by just 266,000 in April, when many economists expected a number as high as 2 million.

In terms of the softer stuff: More and more business owners are complaining, loudly, that they cannot find people to work. Restaurants are offering hiring bonuses to try to get potential workers in the door, Uber and Lyft are desperate for drivers, and Costco, McDonald’s, Sheetz, and Chipotle, along with many small businesses, have raised wages to attract employees.

The issue, many business executives and politicians claim, is that the country’s social-insurance and anti-poverty programs are providing more of a hammock than a safety net: Many workers are getting a $300-a-week bonus on top of their regular state UI payments, and are still flush from the rounds of stimulus checks sent out during the pandemic. Workers would rather stay home and collect the dole than go out and take a job, the argument goes. “Continuing these programs only worsens the workforce issues we are currently facing,” Missouri Governor Mike Parson said at a press conference, announcing a cut to the state’s UI payments. “It is time we ended these programs that have incentivized people to stay out of the workforce.”

But surveys of workers—and the simple observation of the strange and still-awful reality we find ourselves in—indicate many reasons why workers are hesitant or unable to take new gigs. The pandemic is abating, but it is not over. Many workers have preexisting medical conditions or a sick family member to worry about, meaning they cannot take a frontline, essential job. Millions of parents are still struggling with the closure of child-care centers and schools. More personal, less easily quantified impulses are at play too: After a year of immense personal and collective trauma, many people just want to take a beat before committing to a new job.

Wages are another pivotal factor. Workers used to making $21 an hour are unlikely to take jobs for $17 an hour—nor would doing so be good for the American economy. Workers used to making $17 an hour are unlikely to take a much more dangerous job for the same amount—nor would doing so be good for the American economy. And workers used to making $15 an hour, who now have a reasonable expectation that more $21-an-hour jobs will be available in a few weeks, are unlikely to take a job for $15 an hour—nor would doing so be good for the American economy.

Yet many employers are dragging their feet in raising wages to make their job offerings worth taking, given the economic climate and the risks of service work. Much of the “wage growth” evident in recent statistics is due to high-wage workers being much less likely to have lost their jobs than low-wage workers; once you account for that fact, wages have not risen much at all. This is part of what accounts for the “labor shortage.” The issue isn’t workers. It’s employers.

The country’s generous UI is likely playing a role too. In a recent survey by ZipRecruiter, job seekers reported feeling far less financial pressure to take the first job they were offered, likely because UI and stimulus checks buoyed family finances. But a large body of research has shown that UI has a more moderate effect on job-acceptance rates than one might think, because it offers only the lowest-paid workers more incentive to say no.

Moreover, UI helping drive wages up by giving workers the option of saying no to a bad job is not a bad thing. Ample UI improves what is sometimes called “job match,” because it gives job seekers the ability to wait for the right position to come along. It also has disproportionate benefits for Black and Latino workers, who have borne a disproportionate burden of both the health crisis and the economic crisis of the past year.

A more philosophical point needs to be made here, too: The job of the government is not to ensure a supply of workers at whatever wage rates businesses set. And workers’ having the power to say no is not a policy problem that the government needs to solve. For decades, though, Washington and America’s statehouses have helped rig the country’s policy infrastructure in employers’ favor.

The federal government has set the country’s wage floor below its poverty line, for instance, and has not increased the minimum wage to account for improvements in productivity and output over time. The current federal minimum is just $7.25 an hour, compared with roughly $10 an hour in Ireland and Canada, $11 in the Netherlands, $12 in France and Germany, and $12.50 in Australia and Luxembourg. Indeed, the United States has the lowest minimum wage compared with typical or average wages of any country in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. That helps explain why the United States has the highest share of low-wage work among the OECD countries. Fully one-quarter of American workers earn less than two-thirds of the median wage, compared with just 5 percent in Belgium and 12 percent in Japan.

The government has also proved complicit in the collapse of unionization and collective bargaining, making it easy for businesses to beat back organizing efforts and difficult for workers to band together to demand raises, benefits, and safe working conditions. The country has half, one-fifth, one-ninth of the collective-bargaining coverage of many of our peer countries. This has increased inequality in America, holding down wages while bolstering corporate profits.

At the same time, the government has declined to make companies compete against one another—for customers or for workers. Corporate concentration has increased, and any number of industries are dominated by just a handful of giant players. This pushes up profits and decimates wages, particularly in areas with fewer employers.

In recent decades, the government has also decided to allow the unfettered proliferation of Uber-type jobs, sacrificing the needs of low-wage workers in order to satisfy the preferences of wealthy, urban consumers and calling it all “innovation.” The central “innovation” of the gig economy is to call employees “contractors,” to avoid giving them benefits and a stable salary.

Even the American safety net exists not to eliminate poverty so much as to use poverty as a cudgel to force individuals into low-wage work. The earned-income tax credit goes only to people with earned income; food stamps and welfare benefits require a job-search effort. Over time, UI has become in some ways more and more like welfare; many states have made benefits shorter in term and stingier in size.

The government has long encouraged low-wage jobs and forced people into them. This is what we are seeing when governors rush to slash UI at the first sign of a real recovery and when policy makers describe workers’ demands as a “drag” on the economy. Uncle Sam is acting in the interests of low-wage employers, not the economy as a whole.

Perhaps the status quo is changing. The Biden administration has pushed a new New Deal designed to end poverty and provide greater economic security to the 99 percent. It is arguing that bolstered, extended UI should be kept in place for the benefit of American families. It is also promising to be the most pro-union government in decades. Part of this push must be giving workers the power to say no to employers—and putting employers in the uncomfortable position of having to compete for workers.

Maybe a labor shortage is a good thing.

[allwaswell16]

Top Ten Favorite Larry Fics

This is a rec list of my top ten favorite Larry fics as well as @taggiecb​‘s top ten favorites! This was an incredibly difficult list to make, and our top tens kept changing from day to day. We had to stop somewhere though. The fics are listed in order of wordcount. 

You can hear us talk about our top tens on a bonus episode of my podcast, Fanfictional here! You can find other episodes of Fanfictional here and my other fic recs here! Remember to leave kudos and comments if you like the fics. Happy reading! 

💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗

my top ten

💕 Unbelievers, @isthatyoularry​ (E, 136k, enemies to lovers, high school, football, co-captains, enemies with benefits, complicated families, rich Harry, humor, angst with a happy ending, smut)

💕 Love Is A Rebellious Bird, @100percentsassy​ & @gloriaandrews​ (E, 134k, enemies to lovers au, London Symphony Orchestra, conductor Harry, concertmaster Louis, bullying, angst with a happy ending, hurt/comfort, smut)

💕 I’ll Fly Away, @juliusschmidt​ (E, 122k, friends to lovers, childhood friends, small town, bisexuality, coming out, friendships, American H&L, angst with a happy ending, smut)

💕 Both Showing Hearts, @icanhazzalou / kiwikero (E, 113k, uni au, coming out, bullying, homophobia, hurt/comfort, lgbtq themes, first time, smut, sexuality crisis, side Ziam)

💕 The Second Hand Unwinds, @kingsofeverything​ (E, 51k, time travel, NASA, aerospace engineer Louis, age difference due to time travel)

💕 Tied Down, @ham-palpert (E, 48k, crime au, criminal Louis, criminal Harry, multiple POVs, non-linear, detective Niall, detective Liam, undercover officer Zayn, drugs, prison, established relationship)

 💕 That’s What I’m Here For, @taggiecb​ (E, 46k, farm au, farmer Louis, farm hand Harry, boss/employee, age gap, demisexual Louis, small town Canada, adult children, sexuality crisis, mourning, depression, soft, happy ending, silver fox Louis)

💕 Just Tell Me the Song and I’ll Sing It, @myownsparknow​ / myownspark (NR, 39k, college au, karaoke, music, baseball, pining, song fic, angst with a happy ending, romantic gestures, architecture major Louis, college baseball player Harry)

💕  The Haunting of Louis Tomlinson, @helloamhere (T, 31k, magical realism, ghosts, ghost Harry, supernatural elements, haunted house, Zouis friendship, humor)

💕 Where the lights are beautiful, @polkadotlou​ / twoshipsdrifting (31k, M, a/b/o, accidental bonding, hate to love, misunderstandings, miscommunication, heat, rut, smut, character injury, angst with a happy ending)

taggiecb’s top ten

 💕 And Then a Bit, @infinitelymint (E, 158k, future canon, fake relationship, PR relationship, friends to lovers, angst with a happy ending, smut)

💕 Take My Breath Away, @realitybetterthanfiction (E, 153k, Top Gun au, pilot Harry, flight instructor Louis, hurt/comfort, angst with a happy ending, plane accident, character injury, recovery, PTSD)

💕 Pull Me Under, @zarah5undercover​ / zarah5 (E, 140k, football au, fake relationship, coming out, famous Louis, professional football player Louis, agent Liam, side Ziam, teammate Niall, romance, smut)

💕 The Dead of July, @whimsicule (M, 117k, Avengers au, Captain America Harry, Bucky Louis, Iron Man Liam, Hawkeye Niall, Black Widow Zayn, hurt/comfort, angst, PTSD)

💕 burn to ash, @bethaboolou​ (E, 116k, future canon, past alcoholism, flashbacks, touring, secret relationship, established relationship, exes to lovers, anger, sadness, redemption, tension, reunion, smut)

💕 Say Hallelujah, Say Goodnight, @alivingfire​ (E, 110k, angel/demon au, angel Louis, demon Harry, religious imagery, Greek mythology, historical fantasy, non linear, violence, happy ending, smut)

💕 Emperor’s New Clothes, @magicalrocketships​ / sunsetmog (E, 92k, famous/not famous, famous Harry, secret relationship, exes to lovers, outing, money trouble, angst with a happy ending, Humph the cat)

💕 No One Does It Better, nodibs (E, 50k, alternate universe, injured Louis, hurt/comfort, fluff, angst, alcohol abuse, alcoholic Harry, bartender Louis)

💕 Just Hear This and Then I’ll Go, @allwaswell16​ (E, 44k, enemies to lovers, modern day Pride and Prejudice, famous/famous, pretentious Harry, record labels, sexual tension, pining, smut, angst with a happy ending)

💕  fondre ton absence, @scrunchyharry (T, 41k, amnesia au, historical, WWI, first love, soldier Louis, sick Harry)

[phgq]

Filipino workers in Canada receive recovery aid

#PHnews: Filipino workers in Canada receive recovery aid

MANILA – The Canadian government has extended its coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) recovery assistance to Filipinos who are temporarily working in the North American country, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said on Sunday.

In a report to Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Vancouver said Canada has made changes to its Employment Insurance program and introduced a package of recovery benefits to better support not only its citizens but also qualified temporary Filipino workers.

According to the report, those who are already receiving the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) are also eligible to avail one of the new recovery benefits.

The package of aid includes the Canada Recovery Benefit that gives income support to employed and self-employed individuals who are directly affected by Covid-19 and who are not covered by the state emergency insurance. Under this program, beneficiaries may receive CAD1,000 (PHP36,800) for a two-week period.

Another assistance is called the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit that provides income support to those who are unable to work because they must care for their child under 12 years old or has a family member who needs supervised care. If eligible, a household may receive CAD500 (PHP18,400).

A third aid measure is the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit. This assistance extends income support to those who are unable to work because they are sick or needed to self-isolate due to Covid-19. Also covered are those who have underlying condition which puts them at greater risk of getting Covid-19. If eligible, they can receive CAD500 for a one week-period.

Bello thanked the federal government of Canada for the assistance package which also helps overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) mitigate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The Canadian government’s continuous support to Temporary Filipino Workers is very much appreciated by the Philippines, most especially at this time of the pandemic,” Bello said in a press release issued on Sunday.

These programs are a follow-through to the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit, a program which provides financial support (amounting to CAD2,000 per month) to employed and self-employed Canadians, as well as foreign nationals working in Canada, who are directly affected by Covid-19.

The new recovery package will be in effect for a year from last month.

For more information regarding the recovery programs of the Canadian government, particularly on qualifications and eligibility, applicants may read more at https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/covid19-emergency-benefits. (PR)

***

References:

* Philippine News Agency. "Filipino workers in Canada receive recovery aid." Philippine News Agency. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1118140 (accessed October 11, 2020 at 09:23PM UTC+14).

* Philippine News Agency. "Filipino workers in Canada receive recovery aid." Archive Today. https://archive.ph/?run=1&url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1118140 (archived).

[atlanticcanada]

P.E.I. announces funding for those laid off in latest lockdowns

In a last-minute media conference Monday, P.E.I. Minister of Economic Growth, Tourism and Culture, Matthew MacKay announced funding for Islanders impacted by the latest lockdown measures.

The funds include $500 for workers or self-employed P.E.I. residents who have completely lost their income, or had their hours reduced by at least 12 hours a week from Feb. 28 to March 14.

This comes as the province announced a ‘circuit breaker’ Saturday after an uptick in new cases and fear of community spread, and then even tighter measures Sunday.

MacKay says the benefits are available in addition to federal supports, such as CRB, EI, the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit, and the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit.

According to MacKay in Monday’s conference, the application will be available on the province’s website by Tuesday.

Also announced Monday, an "employee gift card" program, where laid-off workers can apply for a $100 gift card. This program is for workers laid off between Feb. 28 and March 14 as well.

MacKay says more information, along with the application form are available on the province’s website.

"I want to thank all islanders for your patience as we roll out these supports," said MacKay. "And lastly, there’s a variety of safe ways to support our local businesses during this time, like ordering online, delivery, social distance pickups, or curbside drop-offs."

MacKay added his thanks to business owners on the island who he says have been innovative in accommodating safe options for their customers.

from CTV News - Atlantic https://ift.tt/37VYjxd

[worklabournewsresearch]

'If You're Sick, Stay Home' is a Non-starter for Many Canadians

"The debate around paid sick leave has grown louder and more urgent in the past several weeks as COVID-19 cases have continued to soar in many parts of the country along with concern that people are going to work sick because they can't afford to lose their pay. ... Many worker advocates say what is needed is better paid sick leave. At the end of February, the labour federations from all 10 provinces and three territories joined together to call for 'seamless access to universal, permanent and adequate employer-paid sick days for all workers.' That has not happened. Here's a brief look at where paid sick leave stands right now in Canada."

How many Canadians have paid sick leave?

"Most don't, according to a report released last August by the Decent Work and Health Network, a network of health providers based in Ontario who advocate for better employment conditions. Fifty-eight per cent of workers in Canada reported having no access to paid sick days, the report found, citing a University of B.C. analysis of 2016 Statistics Canada data. It's even higher for those who earn less than $25,000 — more than 70 per cent had no paid sick leave. And a study released last fall by Corporate Knights found only 28 per cent of the large Canadian companies surveyed offered adequate sick leave, which was defined as at least 10 paid days per year."

What does the federal program cover?

"The $1.1 billion Canada recovery sickness benefit (CRSB), which was unveiled last fall, offers workers $500 ($450 after taxes) for a one-week period. If the illness lasts longer, the worker must reapply. The CRSB will pay a maximum of two weeks total, for the period between Sept. 27, 2020 and Sept. 25, 2021. A worker must be off sick for at least 50 per cent of their normal work week to qualify, and must have earned $5000 in 2019, 2020, or in the 12 months prior to applying. Some advocates say it falls short of what is needed. 'What we're trying to address here is a worker who wakes up in the morning and they have symptoms,' said Laird Cronk, president of the B.C. Federation of Labour, one of the 13 federations that made the joint request for employer-paid sick leave."

"The application process and eligibility criteria make it difficult for a worker to just decide to stay home, he said. 'We don't want them to say, I'm so worried about this untenable decision, so worried about paying rent or groceries and food or medications or for the kids, that they convince themselves that it's probably seasonal allergies and they hope for the best because they can't afford to lose the money.'"

CBC, April 9, 2021: "'If you're sick, stay home' is a non-starter for many Canadians," by Stephanie Hogan

Decent Work & Health Network, August 19, 2020: Before it's Too Late: How to Close the Paid Sick Day Gap During COVID-19 and Beyond (49 pages, PDF)

UBC Partnership for Work, Health and Safety, May 28, 2020: Ability to work from home and paid sick leave benefits by precarious employment and socioeconomic status (6 pages, PDF)

Photo Source: Burston, C. (2021). A man holds up a sign as a group advocating for provincially mandated paid sick days for workers participates in a 'die-in' rally outside Queens Park in Toronto on Jan. 13 [Photograph]. CBC. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/paid-sick-leave-cbc-explains-1.5980362

[canadianabroadvery]

“ ... Stanford's paper focuses on recommendations for improvements to the labour market in general, while still addressing faults in the labour market that were laid bare by the pandemic. These recommendations include ensuring all workers have paid sick leave, a strong income security system, and that the work of essential workers remains valued by the public.  

"The workers see that the companies need them, and that society needs them. I hope that will help them understand their collective power a bit better," said Stanford, speaking primarily of essential service workers.  

One of his recommendations to reform the labour market is key to achieving any of his others, he said. In order to achieve any of his proposed changes, the labour movement needs to organize, educate and mobilize workers he said. Looking forward, Stanford suggests ensuring workers have adequate structures of voice, representation and bargaining power to be able to advance their economic interests in future.

"This moment should be a clarion call for workers to put aside their differences and strengthen their collective voice and really push the envelope at a moment when the failure of a previous way of doing things is starkly visible," he said....”

[allthecanadianpolitics]

Canadians who received pandemic benefits will have up to a year to pay back any debt from those benefits without interest, CBC News has confirmed.

The interest relief will apply to Canadians who made up to $75,000 in taxable income in 2020 and received one of the federal government's five pandemic relief benefits or employment insurance benefits. The measure was first reported by The National Post.

Those pandemic benefits are the Canada Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB) that replaced it, the Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB), the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB) and the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB).

Continue Reading.

Tagging: @politicsofcanada

[nanciluke20]

All about the Gelato near me

The use of medical cannabis these days is contentious, and in recent years the American Medical Association, the MMA, the American Society of Addiction Medicine, and other medical organizations have issued statements opposing its use for medicinal purposes. In general, research says medical marijuana is safe and effective in controlling chronic pain, relieving nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy, treating wasting syndrome associated with AIDS, and controlling muscle spasms due to multiple sclerosis and epilepsy. Several studies have indicated that cannabinoids may prevent many types of cancers from spreading and growing, including pancreaticcancer, lung, leukemic, melanoma, oral, lymphoma and other kinds of cancer. A substantial proportion of oncologists support medical marijuana as an option for their own patients. A breed found in Mexico and Central South America. The sativa plant is tall with narrow, serrated leaves. It's THC - the psychoactive-inducing region of the plant - and the consequences are mostly on the mind and emotions. A strain found in Asia and India and grown in the United States. The plant is short and stocky. Indica's effects are mostly physical and some emotional, including relaxation, sedation and pain decrease. The effect in cross pollination of various strains. The effects are often more powerful than the original strain. Unlike many abused drugs, an overdose of marijuana isn't lethal, according to the National Cancer Institute. Although marijuana may be addictive for many, the capacity for forming a dependence on marijuana is lower than some prescription medication and other abused drugs. But, marijuana has unwanted effects. The primary psychoactive chemical in marijuana is THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, among more than 60 cannabinoids (chemicals unique to marijuana). THC binds to cannabinoid receptors, which can be concentrated in areas of the brain associated with thinking, memory, enjoyment, coordination and time perception. Researchers think that regular cannabis use could have neurotoxin consequences on aging brain structures. A 2012 study at the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that people who began smoking before age 18, showed a larger decline in IQ and cognitive functioning compared to people who started taking as adults. More: Heavy adolescent users-an typical of four or more occasions a week-who continued to smoke as adults experienced an 8-point IQ fall which couldn't be blamed on booze, other drugs, or less education. The consequences of marijuana may interfere with focus, judgment and balance. Marijuana also suppresses the immune system, which can be detrimental to many people, but helpful for others with certain health conditions. Though marijuana has been proven to decrease pressure within the eyes, a symptom of this illness glaucoma, research has shown that other drugs might be more effective. Studies have produced conflicting results on whether smoking marijuana carries a significant cancer risk. According to the American Cancer Society, global research into the benefits and side effects of chemicals in marijuana is continuing. Some chemicals in marijuana have already been developed into pharmaceuticals. Canada, New Zealand and many countries in Europe have accepted a nasal spray, which uses purified cannabinoids derived from marijuana for the treatment of cancer pain and muscle spasms in multiple sclerosis. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved two medications made of synthetic cannabinoids, dronabinol and nabilone, which treat nausea and appetite problems in cancer and HIV patients. Yet the FDA hasn't approved marijuana in its own plant type as a therapy. Living in the rural areas where there are tall grass and bushes everywhere, lies a creature that can make you quite sick from its bite. There are lots of different species of ticks, but only few can infect us with a deadly virus. Emedicine.com-"Ticks are arthropods, such as lions. There are over 800 species of ticks across the world." It is true to say that they are uncontrollable and may attach to anybody of any age. Unfortunately, there is hardly much you can do about the number of these in your lawns and surrounding woodlands. They could travel with several different creatures like; dogs, cats, cattle, raccoons, rabbits and humans. They're attracted to warm, dark areas of the body just visible with the human eye, making them even harder to spot. I believe all could agree that a insect clinging to your skin with no knowledge is rather creepy and scary. I am sure we all recall one time or another child or adult, finding one stuck on us. Emedicine.com-"Ticks will be the leading carriers (vectors) of diseases to individuals in the United States, second only to mosquitoes worldwide." That's a staggering comparison statement considering West Nile Virus is at fault to a lot of lost lives through the years. Along with other life threatening ailments mosquitos' carry pose a higher threat too. In schools nationally, health courses teach children proper behavior to stop Deer Tick bites. There are well known precautions that could be made to prevent them from biting such as; long sleeves, boots, jeans, long sleeves and assessing yourselves, together with children, on a basis after being at the backyard, lawn or anywhere they could possibly dwell. Gently remove the tick with tweezers, making sure to eliminate all of the legs from the skin, wrap it in foil, bring to your doctor to have it cleared as a sign with Lyme disease or not. Deer tick bites left untreated show a red, goal like ring around the face area of the bite, resulting in" Lyme Disease" or"Lyme Borreliosis." This is a serious issue, resulting in a lot of pain that you may wind up in a wheel chair or perhaps bed stricken for days at a time. It takes away the enjoyable aspects of life and can create you're everyday routine unhappy. Most of us know suffering from intense pain isn't a laughing matter, and being nauseous always is a burden inside it itself. This is what this disease places in you're body, sucking on precious time from your life, you are mind too. By the early twentieth century, the growth of the combustion engine and the diesel motor finished the era of commercial sailing ships. The production of steel and iron for cable and boats' hulls further removed natural fibers in marine use. However, hemp does seem to be making a resurgence. And it's about time provided the numerous advantages and benefits of this unusually eco fiber. Many countries are waking up to the worth of hemp. Canada, the uk and Germany all resumed commercial production in the 1990s. In total approximately thirty states produce hemp with China being the largest producer. The Hemp Industries Association has estimated that the North American hemp cloths and fabrics market surpassed $100 million in 2007 and is currently growing at around 10 percent each year. Many doctors treat this disorder with a regiment of antibiotics. This really is the efficient method to cure this disease. Although antibiotics can upset you're gut, affecting appetite severely. Which can lead to weight reduction as the disease progress. Headaches come and go and can consist of wretched migraines. They can be so unforgiving and punishable taking a toll on you every single time. Regular sleeping routines will be continuously interrupted causing chronic tiredness and disrupting ones circadian rhythm. Brutal sharp pains running all of the way up your temples causing pain on your forehead and eyes. Stiffness off your neck, back, legs and joints can make you feel helpless, irritable and tired. Lyme disease can come and go, but for a few it wont let up. In most serious cases, this is categorized as" Persistent Lyme Disease" with people suffering constantly, not in spurts. A lot of people with Lyme disease may not believe cannabis may be one of the more affective long-term medications to help alleviate symptoms. Cannabis is a safer, more calming medicine that can eliminate pain in most forms. Medically, cannabis may be used for a lot of reasons. It fights the aches in your joints and pain during your whole body. The stronger the pressure brings on the more potent medicine. This might be the response to questions about cannabis being an alternative medicine together with the people afflicted by"Lyme Disease" who are looking for other, more natural techniques of healing. Cannabis can provide the energy required to create it through the rough days when your symptoms are large. During the day it can make lying down and falling asleep a beautiful occasion, instead of a bothersome nervous one. After a great night sleep, then you could wake up feeling refreshed instead of tired and sore. At the morning cannabis is an unbelievable way to help loosen your muscles and stiffness out of prior nighttime tossing and turning. The unlucky early sunrises if you woke up sick and tired could really be a thing of the past. Ingesting cannabis will make your appetite more powerful, bringing a much needed nutrition. Walking instead of limping, round the home brings weekends. Additionally for the non-smokers that you could have a yummy, potent and fresh raw medicine of your choice. It's surely true that after polyester came on the scene, natural fibres came under threat experiencing considerable economic hardship during the period from 1960 - 1990. However, post the 1990s, cotton made a tremendous recovery, recapturing market share, and it has continued to show good growth ever since. To find further details please discover more here. Ask you're doctor or physician about medical cannabis on what opinions they have. This might be a breaking point in you're life, helping to dissipate most symptoms of Lyme disease. If all other ways of relieving pain eventually become hopeless cannabis could officially help you. Like a general, Lyme disease truly shows no mercy and no surrender; its time to show it whose going to be the last one standing. See further articles in The Cannabis Times. Getting stoned, getting high, getting baked-all keywords for exactly the same thing. Marijuana has the ability to relax the brain and (if used incorrectly) to blur it. Weed can also relax the body and ease pain, however when used incorrectly, may seriously impair motor skills. Different breeds of medical cannabis have different effects on the body and mind-this is your main reason that"bud tenders" at medical MJ dispensaries urge different breeds for different MMJ patients. Here are five different strains of medical-grade bud and how they influence the mind and body. We chose strains of different types of marijuana, a few indica, a few sativa, some blends, to showcase the varied effects of marijuana breeds on the body and mind. Colorado taxpayers voted to pass Amendment 20 in 2000 opening the doorway for an influx of new legal medical marijuana dispensaries. Over the last several years, the Colorado medical marijuana business is now the fastest growing industry in the state. It had been reported in 2010 which the number of all Denver dispensaries has grown to outnumber the number of Starbucks in town. With this overwhelming variety of new cannabis dispensaries opening across the country, it's hard to know where to get started. Therefore, in the event that you have your Colorado medical marijuana registry card and you are wondering how to obtain the finest Colorado dispensaries, then keep searching for a few handy hints. . .The first step in finding a new medical marijuana dispensary is to identify all the dispensaries that are in close proximity to a place. Google maps is an excellent tool for this job because it will actually overlay location markers should you do a search for something such as"Denver Dispensary". As soon as you have a list of a couple dispensaries in your area, you should start researching each by doing another Google search to their particular title and key words. So search for some thing such as"Denver dispensary review" or just"the finest Denver dispensaries" and you should get you the acceptable results. I recommend using the research from these results to further refine your list down to about 3 of the more interesting dispensaries. You have done the appropriate research and read the reviews, now it's time to go to these top 3 medical marijuana dispensaries to watch for yourself. One thing to remember is that because this sector is still so young there is actuallyn't an industry standard when it comes to how individual Colorado cannabis dispensaries operate. What this means for your is that each Colorado dispensary which you visit will be a unique experience! While many Colorado medicinal marijuana dispensaries do not require appointments to access the medication viewing rooms, it's probably a good idea to call ahead and see if there is going to be a wait to be viewed. When creating your own personal evaluation of a new Colorado cannabis dispensary, there are a couple of things that you are going to want to pay close attention to on your first visit. Your first impression will usually be the living room area where you'll have to provide your Colorado medical marijuana registry card to the person at the counter. After that, you will either be immediately carried to the marijuana room or you'll have to wait till your called back. Wait times are usually very brief, often only taking a couple of minutes. I've found many Denver dispensaries don't have any wait at all during none peak times. The most important part of evaluating a brand new medical marijuana dispensary in Colorado is the experience from the bud screening room. For many people, their very first time walking into this room can be overwhelming. With row after row of glass jars packaged with the best Colorado increased medicinal cannabis, patients simply don't know where to start. Well, here's my tips for dealing with this initial experience. Start with the best. Ask to see the A quality, top shelf, red dot or whatever they call their very best cannabis strains. This will immediately give you an notion of the best that they must offer. Also, don't overlook the lower grades of marijuana. . .sometimes it is possible to locate the very best deal for your buck here. Also be sure to observe the pricing structure. This may be a significant determining factor when choosing a primary caregiver for the long run. Many Denver dispensaries provide separate pricing arrangements for members and nonmembers, so make sure you ask each for certain information. After seeing a few places you will begin to see how the overall decoration and air of Colorado cannabis dispensaries can widely vary place to place. Some dispensaries pose a primitive clinical environment that's somewhat like a doctor's office while some will feel more like you are walking into a buddy's comfortable house. Whatever your preference, there's a Colorado medical marijuana dispensary that's ideal for you. This guide isn't an endorsement for marijuana use. Cannabis is still a drug but it is extremely helpful in treating many people with many aliments. The medical marijuana world is rapidly changing so I strongly recommend reading the official Rules and Regulations for Medicinal use of Marijuana in the Colorado Department of Health before making any decisions concerning the medicinal use of cannabis. In the end the best decisions are informed decisions, so make sure you do comprehensive research on any topic involving your health prior to acting. When it comes to collecting, among the most exciting things you can select to collect are cannabis seeds. These contentious little beans are one of the most finely engineered organic products available, probably just slightly behind roses. The amazing characteristics alongside the sheer number of different strains of seed available make them one of the most interesting and most daunting collections to start.

[supercbdbuy]

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[atlanticcanada]

Financial aid for workers hurt by COVID-19 gets unanimous support in Commons

The House of Commons has unanimously passed legislation authorizing new benefits for workers left jobless or underemployed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the process, the minority Liberal government has survived its first pandemic-era confidence test, assuring at least for now that there will be no election as COVID-19 cases spike dangerously across the country.

Bill C-4 passed in the House of Commons in the wee hours of the morning Wednesday, after a day of political manoeuvering and just four-and-a-half hours of debate on the actual contents of the legislation.

Newsletter sign-up: Get The COVID-19 Brief sent to your inbox

In the end, Conservative MPs, who had protested loudly against fast-tracking of the bill and used procedural tactics to hold it up, voted for it. So did Bloc Quebecois MPs, who had also opposed fast-tracking.

It must still be passed by the Senate, which is scheduled to gather Wednesday to deal equally quickly with the bill.

Government House leader Pablo Rodriguez had announced earlier Tuesday that the House of Commons vote would be a confidence measure, meaning the minority Liberal government would have fallen if the bill had been defeated.

There was never much chance of that, however, since the NDP had promised to support the bill, having won two key changes to it.

The bill replaces the now-defunct $500-per-week Canada Emergency Response Benefit, which came to an end last weekend after helping almost nine million Canadians weather the impact of the pandemic.

In its place, workers impacted by the pandemic will have access to a more flexible and generous employment insurance regime and, for those who still don't qualify for EI, a new Canada recovery benefit. The bill also creates a new sick leave benefit and another new caregiver benefit for those forced to take time off work to care for a dependent due to the pandemic.

At the behest of the NDP, the government has increased the proposed new benefits to $500 per week from the originally proposed $400, ensuring no one receives less than they were getting under the CERB.

It has also expanded the eligibility criteria for the sick leave benefit so that it applies not just to individuals who contract COVID-19 but also to those with underlying health conditions or other illnesses, including the flu or the common cold, that makes them more susceptible to COVID-19.

Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough estimated the new measures will cost $34 billion. The bill also included some $17 billion in other COVID-19-related spending.

The NDP grudgingly agreed to support fast-tracking of the bill in order to provide assurance to CERB recipients that they won't be cut adrift now that the CERB has been wound down.

But all opposition parties blamed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for necessitating the speedy approval, without allowing for adequate parliamentary scrutiny.

They pointed to Trudeau's decision last month to prorogue Parliament, which prevented it from dealing with any legislation until Parliament resumed last week. And they accused him of using prorogation to put a stop to studies by Commons committees into the WE Charity affair, which has triggered investigations into possible conflict of interest by Trudeau and former finance minister Bill Morneau.

To draw attention to other Liberal ethical lapses, Conservative MP Michael Barrett forced debate and a vote on a motion calling on former Liberal MP Joe Peschisolido to apologize to the House of Commons for breaching conflict of interest rules when he was still an MP.

Ethics commissioner Mario Dion issued a report eight months ago saying Peschisolido repeatedly failed to disclose his private interests, including assets, loans, his marriage and the fact his B.C. law firm was taken over by the Law Society of British Columbia.

Barrett said it was just another example of Liberals ignoring the rules.

Liberals accused the opposition of putting political games ahead of the needs of people, thousands of whom were anxiously waiting to see if the new benefits would be approved.

Barrett shot back that if the Liberals wanted the bill dealt with quickly they should not have "slammed the door on Parliament" by proroguing in August.

Debate on Barrett's motion delayed progress on Bill C-4 for more than two hours. In the end, his motion passed easily with all opposition parties supporting it.

Conservatives delayed the bill again late Tuesday by proposing an amendment to a government motion to fast-track the legislation. The amendment, which would have allowed for several more days of debate, was defeated by the Liberals, with support from the NDP.

However, Sen. Scott Tannas, leader of the Canadian Senate Group, served notice Tuesday that he will introduce a motion requiring a minimum of one week of debate on all future government legislation proposed during the pandemic. In the case of a "genuine emergency," his motion would require the government to make the case in the Senate as to why a bill should be passed more quickly.

Rodriguez indicated that another emergency bill -- to extend rent relief for businesses -- could in fact be coming soon. Following an evening cabinet meeting Tuesday, he told reporters that the government is well aware that businesses are facing rent payments on Thursday and "I can tell you, we're not going to let them down."

Unlike the House of Commons, which resumed all its normal functions last Thursday using a hybrid format -- with only a few dozen MPs actually in the chamber and the rest participating virtually, including video conference voting -- the Senate has not yet resumed regular sittings. Since mid-March, the Senate has sat only periodically for a few hours to swiftly debate and pass emergency aid legislation.

In a statement, Tannas said members of his caucus want the Senate to adopt a similar format to that now being used in the Commons. And he said they are "frustrated by the continuing pressure from the government on the Senate to simply rubberstamp significant, complex and wide-ranging pandemic-related legislation, spending billions of dollars without proper scrutiny and with little or no debate during one-day sittings."

Sen. Marc Gold, the government's representative in the Senate, said "collegial" discussions on the Senate's "operational continuity" during the pandemic are underway. He refused further comment.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on Sept. 30, 2020.

from CTV News - Atlantic https://ift.tt/2GiTYJR