We stopped the CERB clawback!

February 9, 2021

Dear ACTRA Members,

Thank you to the thousands of members who stepped up to help stop the unjust CERB clawback by sharing a message of support on social media or by calling or E-mailing your Member of Parliament.

Your efforts have paid off! The Government of Canada has heard us loud and clear and, today, announced self-employed individuals who applied for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) based on their gross income will not be required to repay the benefit.

This means, individuals who had self-employment gross income of at least $5,000 will not be required to repay the CERB as long as they met all other eligibility criteria.

This was a joint effort and a true testament to how effective we can be when we work together. Even if you were not personally affected by the change to the CERB income eligibility rules, you likely know an artist who was.

The decision announced today shows how important it is for us to stand together in solidarity, in this case for the many self-employed workers who were affected by the unjust CERB clawback.

I know we all still face a lot of uncertainty as we continue to get through this pandemic, but the great news announced today will, I hope, help alleviate some of the financial uncertainty many Canadians would have had to face if the government did not reconsider its position.

Stay safe and stay strong. Together, we will get through these tough times and come out more united than ever.

In solidarity,
David Sparrow
President
@davesparrow14