The Liberal Party today is calling on the Conservative government to provide support for Canadians in areas of high unemployment by extending the life of the Employment Insurance (EI) pilot projects that have already expired, and ones that are set to expire this fall.
“It’s baffling to me that the Conservative government can spend $1.3 billion on a 72-hour G8/G20 photo-op, $16 billion on sole-sourced stealth fighters, $13 billion on new mega-prisons, and $20 billion on corporate tax giveaways, but they haven’t given a second thought to Canadian families who are still on the unemployment line,” said Liberal Human Resources and Skills Development Critic Mike Savage.
“These highly targeted EI pilot projects are working to help Canadians where unemployment is particularly high. Not only are they filling the gaps of existing EI programs, but more people are working. They are helping those in the highest areas of unemployment, while assisting some of the most vulnerable Canadians,” added Liberal MP for Beauséjour, Dominic LeBlanc.
The four pilot projects – Working While on Claim, New Entrant/Re-Entrant (NERE), Extended EI Benefits and Best 14 Weeks – were designed to better understand the gaps in the EI system in order to make informed changes to the programs.
During the five years running, the four pilot projects have produced an increased level of regular benefits to claimants, especially to those in regions of high unemployment, and amongst vulnerable groups including youth, women, part-time workers, low-skilled workers and workers in low-income families.
The programs were designed to counter disincentives to work, and have increased workforce participation (under Working While on Claim). The Extended EI Benefits expired in September, while the rest are set to expire between October and December 2010.
“The Conservatives already renewed these programs once, at a time when the unemployment situation was less of a problem than it is today,” said Random-Burin-St. George’s MP Judy Foote. “Certain industries are still feeling the effects of the recession, which means a lot of Canadians are still without work. The need for these programs is greater than ever. This benefit is helping them to make ends meet.”
Recent statistics show that the Canadian workforce is still showing a net deficit of 150,000 full-time jobs since the beginning of 2008, and those still waiting to find work depend on this extra money.
“Stephen Harper said so himself in his 2009 Budget, that ‘in uncertain times Canadian workers look to their government to provide additional support.’ This is one of those times. His government must do the right thing to help workers and extend the benefits,” Mr. Savage concluded.
