Chris Warkentin, Member of Parliament for Grande Prairie - Mackenzie, and his Conservatives colleagues announced a new Conservative proposal for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) – called the Back to Work Bonus.

“As our province moves forward with Alberta’s Recovery Plan, this proposal will ensure that hardworking Albertans and businesses are able to transition successfully back to work from the CERB,” Warkentin said. “The Back to Work Bonus will ensure that Canadians are not penalized for going back to work and helping our communities recover.”

Under the Conservative plan, Canadians who lost their jobs during the pandemic will continue to receive their full $2,000 CERB.  In addition, as businesses reopen, workers who make between $1,000 and $5,000 per month would qualify for a CERB top-up that would be gradually phased out by 50 cents for every extra dollar earned over the $1,000 threshold.

Under the current plan, workers lose their entire CERB when they earn even one dollar over the $1,000 monthly limit.

For a part-time server making $2,000 per month, the Back to Work Bonus would result in a top-up of $1,500, for a total monthly income of $3,500.