MB - Job Restart Program hoping to get Manitobans back to work

On June 23, 2020, Manitoba introduced the Manitoba Job Restart Program, which will provide direct payments to help qualified Manitobans return to work. The program will provide one initial payment of $500, plus three additional bi-weekly payments for $500 each, for a total of $2,000 over six weeks.

Program participants will be able to receive the benefit regardless of how much they earn working, but to collect the Manitoba Restart Benefit, they must voluntarily stop collecting the Canada Emergency Response Benefit or the Canada Emergency Student Benefit. Premier Brian Pallister has been vocal in his belief that the federal benefit programs have dissuaded people from returning to work.