With CERB winding down, Ottawa starts tinkering with an engine of the economic recovery

If the federal government isn’t careful, its decision to wind down the Canada Emergency Response Benefit could deal a blow to people’s livelihoods and blunt the country’s economic rebound from the COVID-19-caused downturn. The $2,000-a-month CERB — which, on Sept. 27, Ottawa will start transitioning recipients away from, bringing in a “simplified” Employment Insurance program and other temporary benefits instead — has...