Section 153.3 — Employment Insurance Act: COVID-19

The Minister may, for the purpose of mitigating the economic effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), make interim orders that add provisions, including provisions that provide for new benefits, to this Act or any regulation made under this Act; adapt provisions of this Act or any regulation made under this Act; or provide that any provisions of this Act or a regulation made under this Act do not apply in whole or in part. An interim order is not to be made under subsection (1) in respect of Part IV or VII or in respect of a regulation made under this Act for the purposes of those Parts. An interim order is not to be made under subsection (1) without the consent of the Minister of Finance. An interim order is not to be made under subsection (1) in respect of Part III or in respect of a regulation made under this Act for the purposes of that Part without the additional consent of the President of the Treasury Board. For greater certainty, the Minister may consult the Commission before making an interim order under subsection (1). An interim order made under subsection (1) may, if it so provides, have retroactive effect. An interim order made under subsection (1) must contain provisions that cause any provision added under paragraph (1)(a), any adaptation made under paragraph (1)(b) and any non-application provision made under paragraph (1)(c) to cease to apply on the earliest of the day, if any, specified in the interim order, the day on which the interim order is repealed, and the Saturday after the first anniversary of the day on which the interim order takes effect. If an interim order made under subsection (1) or a provision added under paragraph (1)(a) provides that it applies despite any provision of this Act or any regulation made under this Act, the interim order or added provision prevails to the extent that it conflicts with this Act or any regulation made under this Act. The power to make an interim order under subsection (1) is not to be exercised after September 30, 2020.