C-2An Act to provide further support in response to COVID-19
Government bill, introduced in the House of Commons on November 24, 2021
- Status
- Became law on December 17, 2021 · S.C. 2021, c. 26
What it does
Extends several COVID-19 supports, creates a lockdown benefit, and adds a federal COVID-19 leave for workers.
What it does
- Extends the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy, and Canada Recovery Hiring Program to May 7, 2022, and lets the government extend them by regulation to July 2, 2022.
- Creates the Canada worker lockdown benefit for people in regions where a COVID-19 lockdown is imposed.
- Extends eligibility for the Canada recovery sickness benefit and Canada recovery caregiving benefit, raises the sickness benefit cap from four weeks to six, and raises the caregiving benefit cap from 42 weeks to 44.
- Creates a new COVID-19 leave in the Canada Labour Code, giving employees up to six weeks off if they cannot work because they have COVID-19, are isolating, or have certain related health risks.
- Creates a longer leave, up to 44 weeks, for employees who cannot work because they must care for a child under 12 or a family member who needs supervised care for COVID-19 related reasons.
Who it affects
- Employers
- Employees
- Federally regulated workers
- Tourism and hospitality businesses
- Hard-hit organizations
- People in lockdown regions
- People claiming recovery benefits
- Caregivers
Background
Bill C-2 was introduced in the House of Commons on 2 November 2021. It amends the Income Tax Act, the Canada Recovery Benefits Act, the Canada Labour Code, and related regulations.
Where it is
House of Commons
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Completed.
Committee
Completed.
Report stage
Completed.
Third reading
Completed.
Senate
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Completed.
Committee
Skipped. Skipped
Third reading
Completed.
Royal assent
Royal assent
Completed.
Introduced by a cabinet minister on behalf of the government. Government bills get set time for debate, so they are the most likely to become law. How a bill becomes law
How the House voted
3rd reading and adoption of Bill C-2, An Act to provide further support in response to COVID-19
Vote 18,
Passed
191 yeato142 nay
Party breakdown for vote 18 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Yea 157 0 2 Conservative Nay 0 118 1 Bloc Yea 32 0 0 NDP Nay 0 24 1 Green Yea 1 0 1 Independent Yea 1 0 0 Total 191 142 2nd reading of Bill C-2, An Act to provide further support in response to COVID-19
Vote 5,
Passed
183 yeato129 nay
Party breakdown for vote 5 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Yea 154 0 5 Conservative Nay 0 109 10 Bloc Yea 26 0 6 NDP Nay 0 20 5 Green Yea 2 0 0 Independent Yea 1 0 0 Total 183 129
What MPs said
Each party’s first speech on this bill in the House, from Hansard. Excerpts are the speaker’s opening sentences, unedited.
LiberalRandy Boissonnault· November 26, 2021
“It is my pleasure to rise in the House to discuss Bill C-2, an act to provide further support in response to COVID-19. However, before I get into the substance of Bill C-2, I would like to say a few words of thanks to the residents of Edmonton Centre for once again giving me the great honour of representing them in this chamber.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caConservativePierre Poilievre· November 26, 2021
“Mr. Speaker, everybody is asking the same question. Whether it is 28-year-old couples living in their parents' basements because they cannot afford the $300,000 increase in the average house price that occurred since the government took office; or the single mother walking down the grocery aisle noticing that she cannot afford nutritious food for her kids; or the senior who…”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caBlocGabriel Ste-Marie· November 26, 2021
“The two measures proposed in the bill will apply until May 2022, with the possibility of being extended until July. That provides some important predictability and, for the first time, specific sectors are targeted.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caNDPDaniel Blaikie· November 26, 2021
“I find this bill and the topic of pandemic supports interesting. I think it speaks to the crossroads that Canada finds itself at, in the face of two great challenges.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.ca
Read the source
LEGISinfo status: Royal assent received. Bill data from LEGISinfo, votes from openparliament.ca and the House of Commons. Last updated October 13, 2026.