Federal politicians say government needs to fix sickness benefit loophole

A loophole in the federal government’s Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) has many Canadians up in arms, after it was discovered returning non-essential travellers could receive $1,000 during their mandatory two-week quarantine.
“We did not anticipate this situation when we put it in place […] but if these people are not losing anything or they can work remotely, they’re not losing salary, so they cannot ask for the benefit,” said Federal Liberal MP Marie-Claude Bibeau.
Canadians can apply to the CRSB if they are unable to work because they tested positive for COVID-19 or they are in isolation due to the virus. People who can work remotely during quarantine or receive paid leave are not eligible for the program.
The loophole was first reported by Montreal-based news outlet, La Presse. The CRSB has since been scrutinized by all parties, but Bibeau told The Record that no one in the House of Commons could have predicted this situation when it was passed into law in the fall.
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