Nearly one month ago, Effie Poole was laid off from her job as a server when the restaurant she worked at in Burlington, Ont., closed due to COVID-19.
Nearly one month ago, Effie Poole was laid off from her job as a server when the restaurant she worked at in Burlington, Ont., closed due to COVID-19.
The 35-year-old mother of one is still waiting to qualify for federal emergency aid and was told the reason she hasn’t gotten it is that she’s pregnant.
The Canadian Press has connected with multiple expectant mothers who tell a similar story: They were laid off from their jobs in March, qualified for employment insurance benefits, then stumbled during the promised crossover to the Canada Emergency Response Benefit when it became available this month.
“There are lots of us. It’s not just me,” said Amanda Hoedt of Comox, B.C. “If you applied to the CERB, it’s fine. If you applied for EI first … none of us has been paid.”
Poole said she doesn’t think it’s anything malicious, perhaps an oversight, but it’s one that she and other women in her position are hoping is quickly fixed.
“We’re just waiting, waiting, waiting,” she said.
When the CERB was unveiled this month, the Liberals said anyone who had previously applied for EI since March 15 would be moved to the new 16-week benefit, but needed to re-apply starting this week to continue receiving it.
One of the stipulations is that anyone who receives maternity and parental benefits can’t also receive the CERB, which for Jennifer Mitton isn’t the case since she’s not due to give birth to her first child until August.
The 27-year-old was laid off from her job as a hair-stylist on March 16,