I am very lucky that @Concordia has opted to keep TAs employed and paid through our contracts, which end later this month. My colleagues and I are however not eligible to apply for the relief funding even once we are unemployed and can't find more work because of COVID-19. https://twitter.com/TorontoStar/status/1242835478728097792

The funding explicitly excludes anyone who is seeking work but can't find any. It explicitly excludes students who need to work each summer. It doesn't mention workers whose contracts have ended and can't find more work, but we likely fall under those two groups.

I had been applying for summer work: all of those start dates have been pushed back indefinitely. Many grant decision dates have been pushed back as well, meaning personal funding is still uncertain as are possible RAships (some of which could be done from home).

The distinction bw "lost work due to COVID-19" & "can't find work due to COVID-19" is meaningless & excludes many workers from accessing relief. Precarious & contract workers make up huge parts of the workforce. I hope eligibility guidelines will soon come to include us as well.