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FederalPassed43rd Parliament, 1st Session

Bill C-20 explained in plain English

An Act respecting further COVID-19 measures

Federal Parliament bill summary, status, timeline, sponsor, votes, and official sources.

At a glance

Jurisdiction
Federal Parliament
Legislature / Parliament
Parliament of Canada
Session
43rd Parliament, 1st Session
Bill number
Bill C-20
Full title
An Act respecting further COVID-19 measures
Current status
Passed
Latest event
Royal assent received
Last updated
Jul 27, 2020

Official Parliament of Canada snapshot for 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. MP vote breakdowns appear when the House of Commons publishes a recorded division export for that bill. Senate and House stage details include official debate/sitting links when LEGISinfo publishes them.

Chamber
Parliament of Canada
Current Stage
Royal assent received
Latest Activity
Jul 27, 2020
Plain-language explanation
In plain English (our explanation)

Our plain-language take, written for civic education.

Source: By PoliticalData.ca

AI-assisted, reviewed before publishing
Short Version

This Act amends the Income Tax Act to adjust the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, enables information sharing for a disability payment program, and enacts the Time Limits and Other Periods Act (COVID-19) to manage pandemic-related deadlines.

What It Means

This bill, An Act respecting further COVID-19 measures, makes several changes related to the COVID-19 pandemic. It modifies the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) program by adjusting eligibility criteria and calculation methods, and extends its availability. It also allows for the sharing of information to administer a one-time payment program for persons with disabilities. Additionally, it introduces the Time Limits and Other Periods Act (COVID-19), which allows for the temporary suspension or extension of various legal time limits and other deadlines to address challenges arising from the pandemic. The bill also amends several other acts and regulations related to these measures.

What This Bill Does
  • Modifies the eligibility criteria and calculation methods for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) and extends its application period.
  • Authorizes the disclosure of information for the administration of a one-time payment program for persons with disabilities.
  • Authorizes the use or disclosure of taxpayer information for the administration or enforcement of the one-time payment program for persons with disabilities.
  • Enacts the Time Limits and Other Periods Act (COVID-19) to allow for the temporary suspension or extension of various legal time limits and other periods.
  • Provides for ministerial orders to suspend or extend time limits and periods related to specific Acts and regulations.
  • Specifies that payments for the disability program will be made from the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
  • Amends the Income Tax Act to allow the Minister to determine overpayments related to the CEWS program.
  • Repeals Part LXXXIX.2 of the Income Tax Regulations.
Who Is Affected
  • Employers applying for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS).
  • Individuals with disabilities receiving or applying for a one-time payment.
  • Ministers responsible for various Acts and regulations.
  • Courts and parties involved in legal proceedings.
  • Government departments and agencies involved in administering programs (e.g., Canada Revenue Agency, Department of Employment and Social Development).
  • Taxpayers whose information may be used for the disability payment program.
  • Entities subject to time limits or periods established by Acts of Parliament and their regulations.
Rights, Duties, Or Obligations
  • Employers may have adjusted eligibility and calculation methods for CEWS.
  • Individuals with disabilities may be eligible for a one-time payment.
  • Ministers have the power to suspend or extend certain time limits and periods.
  • Court proceedings may be subject to suspension of time limits.
  • Government officials can use or disclose taxpayer information for the disability payment program.
  • Entities must adhere to any suspended or extended time limits or periods.
  • The government must publish and table orders related to time limit suspensions/extensions.
Important Dates
  • Amendments related to the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy are deemed to have come into force on April 11, 2020.
  • The repeal of Part LXXXIX.2 of the Income Tax Regulations is deemed to have come into force on June 7, 2020.
  • The suspension of certain court time limits under the Time Limits and Other Periods Act (COVID-19) started on March 13, 2020, and ends on September 13, 2020, unless extended or lifted by order.
  • Powers conferred under the Time Limits and Other Periods Act (COVID-19) cannot be exercised after September 30, 2020.
  • Orders made under the Time Limits and Other Periods Act (COVID-19) cannot apply to time limits or periods ending on or after December 31, 2020.
  • The total duration of a suspension or extension under the Time Limits and Other Periods Act (COVID-19) cannot exceed six months.
Financial Or Tax Impacts
  • Adjustments to the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy may affect the amounts received by employers.
  • Payments for the one-time payment to persons with disabilities will be made out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
Enforcement Or Penalties
  • The Time Limits and Other Periods Act (COVID-19) explicitly does not apply to the investigation of an offence or proceedings respecting an offence.
  • The bill does not specify new penalties for non-compliance with the CEWS or disability payment program, but rather modifies existing frameworks.
Uncertainties Or Limits
  • The exact duration of CEWS extensions beyond November 21, 2020, will be determined by regulation.
  • Details regarding which specific Acts and regulations are subject to ministerial orders for time limit changes are outlined in a schedule.
  • The application of some amendments to CEWS depends on elections made by eligible entities.
  • The definition of 'prescribed period' or 'prescribed percentage' for CEWS calculations would be specified in regulations.
  • The specific criteria for the one-time payment to persons with disabilities are not detailed in this bill text.
Laws Or Regulations Affected
Income Tax Act
amends

Changes the rules for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS), including eligibility, calculation of subsidies, and extends the program's availability. It also allows the Minister to determine overpayments related to CEWS and permits the use or disclosure of taxpayer information for a one-time payment program for persons with disabilities. Amendments also relate to how new corporations are treated for CEWS purposes after an amalgamation and how baseline remuneration is calculated.

Source: Part 1, Sections 1-3

Income Tax Regulations
repeals

Repeals Part LXXXIX.2 of the Income Tax Regulations.

Source: Section 4

Pension Act
amends

Authorizes the disclosure of information to the Department of Employment and Social Development or the Canada Revenue Agency for the purpose of administering a one-time payment program for persons with disabilities due to COVID-19.

Source: Section 5

Department of Veterans Affairs Act
amends

Authorizes the disclosure of information to the Department of Employment and Social Development or the Canada Revenue Agency for the purpose of administering a one-time payment program for persons with disabilities due to COVID-19.

Source: Section 6

Children’s Special Allowances Act
amends

Allows information obtained under this Act to be communicated to the Department of Employment and Social Development for the administration of a one-time payment program for persons with disabilities due to COVID-19.

Source: Section 8

Veterans Well-being Act
amends

Authorizes the disclosure of information to the Department of Employment and Social Development or the Canada Revenue Agency for the purpose of administering a one-time payment program for persons with disabilities due to COVID-19.

Source: Section 9

Time Limits and Other Periods Act (COVID-19)
enacts

This new Act creates rules for suspending or extending time limits and other periods that are difficult to meet due to COVID-19. It suspends certain court proceeding deadlines and allows ministers to suspend or extend deadlines for specific acts and regulations. It also includes provisions for transparency and parliamentary oversight.

Source: Section 11

Generated using AI from official bill text. Not legal advice. It is written by PoliticalData.ca for civic education, automatically checked and spot-reviewed before publishing.

Official text
Official summary
Official summary (Parliament of Canada)

The official summary published alongside the bill, shown exactly as written.

Source: Parliament of Canada (LEGISinfo)

Third-party sourceView on LEGISinfo

A legislative summary is currently being prepared for this bill by the Parliamentary Information and Research Service of the Library of Parliament. Meanwhile, the following executive summary is available. On 20 July 2020, the Minister of Finance introduced Bill C-20, An Act respecting further COVID-19 measures, in the House of Commons and it was given first reading. Part 1 amends the Income Tax Act to revise the eligibility criteria for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) in order to support those employers hardest hit by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). It also extends the CEWS to November 21, 2020, with the ability to extend the CEWS by regulation to no later than December 31, 2020, and provides a revised calculation of the CEWS for the fifth and subsequent qualifying periods. Finally, it makes amendments to the Income Tax Act and the Income Tax Regulations to ensure that the CEWS operates effectively. Part 2 amends the Pension Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs Act, the Children’s Special Allowances Act and the Veterans Well-being Act to authorize the disclosure of information for the purpose of the administration of a program to provide a one-time payment to persons with disabilities for reasons related to COVID-19. It also amends the Income Tax Act to authorize the use by officials, or disclosure to Government of Canada officials, of taxpayer information solely for the purpose of that one-time payment. Finally, it provides that any amount payable in relation to the administration of the program to provide that one-time payment is to be paid out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund. Part 3 enacts the Time Limits and Other Periods Act (COVID-19) which addresses the need for flexibility in relation to certain time limits and other periods that are established by or under Acts of Parliament and that are difficult or impossible to meet as a result of the exceptional circumstances produced by COVID-19. In particular, the enactment (a) suspends, for a maximum of six months, certain time limits in relation to proceedings before courts; (b) temporarily enables ministers to suspend or extend time limits and to extend other periods in relation to specified Acts and regulations for a maximum of six months; and (c) provides for the transparent exercise of the powers it confers and for Parliamentary oversight over the exercise of those powers.

This is the official summary published by the Parliament of Canada, shown verbatim. Not legal advice. PoliticalData.ca did not write or edit this text.

View on LEGISinfo

Parliamentary Process

Step 1
First reading
Jul 27, 2020
Completed

Bill C-20, concerning further COVID-19 measures, completed its first reading in the Senate on July 27, 2020, on the same day it received Royal Assent.

First reading, Jul 27, 2020
End of stage activity, Jul 27, 2020
Chamber sittings
First reading - Jul 27, 2020

The Senate completed the first, second, and third readings of Bill C-20, an Act respecting further COVID-19 measures, on July 27, 2020, with the bill receiving Royal Assent on the same day, following debates that touched upon amendments to economic support programs, provisions for persons with disabilities, and administrative time limits, amidst broader discussions on the government's pandemic response and ethical conduct.

On July 27, 2020, the Senate held the first reading of Bill C-20, debated its provisions, and gave it Royal Assent, alongside other procedural business and discussions.

Step 2
Second reading
Jul 27, 2020
Completed

The Senate completed the second reading of Bill C-20 on July 21, 2020, after which it proceeded through further stages and received Royal Assent on July 27, 2020.

Second reading, Jul 27, 2020
End of stage activity, Jul 27, 2020
Chamber sittings
Debate at second reading - Jul 27, 2020

During a Senate sitting on July 27, 2020, Bill C-20, An Act respecting further COVID-19 measures, received first reading, was debated and passed at second and third reading, and subsequently received Royal Assent.

On July 27, 2020, the Senate convened to debate and pass Bill C-20, An Act respecting further COVID-19 measures, which included extensions to the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy and a one-time payment for persons with disabilities, following discussions on various other matters and procedural motions.

Step 3
Third reading
Jul 27, 2020
Completed

The Senate completed the third reading of Bill C-20 on July 27, 2020, after which it received Royal Assent.

Third reading, Jul 27, 2020
End of stage activity, Jul 27, 2020
Chamber sittings
Debate at third reading - Jul 27, 2020

On July 27, 2020, the Senate of Canada completed the third reading of Bill C-20, An Act respecting further COVID-19 measures, which subsequently received Royal Assent on the same day, following discussions that addressed the bill's provisions, procedural matters, and broader COVID-19 related concerns.

During the Senate's debate on Bill C-20, An Act respecting further COVID-19 measures, senators discussed its provisions for wage subsidies, support for persons with disabilities, and time limit flexibility, before the bill received Royal Assent.

Step 1
First reading
Jul 20, 2020
Completed

Bill C-20, an Act respecting further COVID-19 measures, completed its First Reading in the House of Commons on July 20, 2020, and subsequently received Royal Assent on July 27, 2020.

Introduction and first reading, Jul 20, 2020
End of stage activity, Jul 20, 2020
Chamber sittings
Introduction and first reading - Jul 20, 2020

The House of Commons began the process for Bill C-20, An Act respecting further COVID-19 measures, with debate and discussion on its provisions, alongside broader discussions on the government's COVID-19 response and ethical matters.

This record documents the introduction and initial debate on Bill C-20, which proposed extensions and changes to the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy and provided a one-time payment for Canadians with disabilities, amidst discussions on government accountability and broader pandemic relief.

On July 20, 2020, the House of Commons began the First Reading of Bill C-20, An Act respecting further COVID-19 measures, with extensive debate and procedural discussions.

The House of Commons began the first reading of Bill C-20, An Act respecting further COVID-19 measures, with extensive debate on the bill's provisions and the government's broader COVID-19 response, including the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy and support for persons with disabilities.

During the first reading of Bill C-20 on July 20, 2020, the House of Commons debated the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy and support for persons with disabilities, while also extensively discussing the WE Charity scandal and related ethical concerns.

Step 2
Second reading
Jul 21, 2020
Completed

The House of Commons completed the second reading of Bill C-20, An Act respecting further COVID-19 measures, on July 21, 2020, after which it proceeded through subsequent stages to receive Royal Assent.

Second reading and referral to committee, Jul 21, 2020
End of stage activity, Jul 21, 2020
Chamber sittings
Debate at second reading - Jul 20, 2020

During the second reading debate of Bill C-20 on further COVID-19 measures, the House of Commons discussed proposed changes to the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy and a payment for individuals with disabilities, alongside significant debate surrounding the WE Charity scandal and its ethical implications.

The sponsor of Bill C-20 delivered a speech during the second reading debate, outlining proposed enhancements to the Canada emergency wage subsidy to extend its reach and flexibility, and introducing a one-time payment for individuals with disabilities.

In the House of Commons during the second reading of Bill C-20, members debated proposed COVID-19 measures, including changes to the wage subsidy and support for persons with disabilities, while also extensively discussing the WE Charity scandal and other pressing national and international issues.

The House of Commons debated Bill C-20, focusing on expanding the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy and providing a one-time payment to persons with disabilities, while also addressing procedural matters and ethical concerns regarding government contracts.

During the second reading of Bill C-20, Members of Parliament debated the effectiveness and equity of government COVID-19 relief measures, including the Canada emergency wage subsidy and support for persons with disabilities, while also raising concerns about the WE Charity scandal and other policy issues.

Debate at second reading - Jul 21, 2020

During the House of Commons second reading debate on July 21, 2020, members discussed Bill C-20, an Act respecting further COVID-19 measures, covering changes to the wage subsidy, disability payments, and time limits, while also debating broader issues of ethics and government accountability.

Step 3
Consideration in committee
Jul 21, 2020
Completed

The House of Commons completed its committee stage review of Bill C-20 on July 21, 2020, before it moved to report stage and third reading.

Committee report presented without an amendment, Jul 21, 2020
End of stage activity, Jul 21, 2020
Chamber sittings
Committee report presented without an amendment - Jul 21, 2020

The House of Commons completed all stages of its consideration of Bill C-20, An Act respecting further COVID-19 measures, on July 21, 2020, leading to its passage at the third reading.

Step 4
Report stage
Jul 21, 2020
Completed

The House of Commons completed the Report stage for Bill C-20 on July 21, 2020, after which it received Royal Assent on July 27, 2020.

Concurrence at report stage, Jul 21, 2020
End of stage activity, Jul 21, 2020
Chamber sittings
Concurrence at report stage - Jul 21, 2020

The House of Commons debated and passed Bill C-20 at report stage, which implemented further COVID-19 measures including expanded wage subsidies, disability payments, and adjustments to legal time limits.

Step 5
Third reading
Jul 21, 2020
Completed

Bill C-20 completed its Third Reading in the House of Commons on July 21, 2020, and later received Royal Assent on July 27, 2020.

Third reading, Jul 21, 2020
End of stage activity, Jul 21, 2020
Chamber sittings
Debate at third reading - Jul 21, 2020

The House of Commons debated and passed Bill C-20, an act concerning further COVID-19 measures, which included extending the wage subsidy, providing a one-time payment to people with disabilities, and adjusting time limits, after discussions on its various aspects.

Step 1
Royal assent
Jul 27, 2020
Royal assent, Jul 27, 2020
End of stage activity, Jul 27, 2020
Chamber sittings
Royal assent - Jul 27, 2020

We don't have a plain-language summary for Royal assent yet. The official source linked below is the full record.

We don't have a plain-language summary for Debates of the Senate yet. The official source linked below is the full record.

Debate and sitting links point to official parliamentary sources when LEGISinfo publishes them. Any plain-language discussion summaries should be generated from those official texts and reviewed before public display.

Vote Summary

No published recorded division

This bill does not have a published recorded division in the current official sources, so representative-by-representative vote counts are not shown.

Sponsor
Bill Morneau
Sponsor party or district not listed
Jurisdiction
Federal Parliament

No published representative vote breakdown

The current official sources do not publish a recorded division breakdown for this bill, so there is no representative-by-representative table to show.

Official sources

Status, sponsor, votes, and timeline on this page are drawn from these official legislative sources and public records. Each summary above is attributed to its own source.

How this data is sourced