Canada extends temporary EI measures for tariff-hit workers until October 10, 2026 Body
Latest news on WhatsApp أجدد الأخبار على واتساب
Canada’s federal government has extended three temporary Employment Insurance measures for another six months, keeping them in place until October 10, 2026, in a move it says is meant to preserve income support for workers affected by tariffs and trade-related disruption. Jobs and Families Minister Patty Hajdu announced the extension on March 20, 2026, saying the goal is to continue helping workers in the sectors and regions under the greatest strain.
The extended measures include waiving the one-week waiting period so eligible claimants can begin receiving benefits from the first week, suspending the treatment of certain separation monies such as some severance-related payments, and adding 20 extra weeks of regular EI benefits for long-tenured workers. Ottawa says the package is designed to speed up access to financial relief during a period of ongoing labour-market uncertainty.
According to the government’s estimates, the extension of the waiting-period waiver could affect about 632,000 additional claims, the suspension of separation-payment allocation could apply to roughly 136,000 additional claims, and about 43,500 workers could benefit from the extra 20 weeks for long-tenured workers. The government also said Work-Sharing flexibilities have been extended until March 31, 2027, after around 1,500 applications tied to tariff-affected businesses were approved since the start of 2025, covering more than 54,000 workers and helping avert an estimated 20,000 layoffs.
The extension fits into a broader federal response launched in 2025 to cushion workers and employers from the impact of tariffs. Ottawa is presenting the latest move as a way to prevent gaps in support for people and industries that remain exposed to trade shocks, especially in export-linked and manufacturing-heavy sectors.
