Feds adjust EI program to help Canadians transition from CERB

Aug 10, 2020 | 10:17 AM

OTTAWA, ONT – The federal government has made a change to Employment Insurance (EI) in an attempt to allow Canadians to maintain their benefits for longer.

Normally, a person who is eligible for EI can qualify for anywhere from 14 weeks to 45 weeks of payments depending on the unemployment rate in their region and other factors.

Federal Minister of Employment, Workforce Development, and Disability Inclusion Carla Qualtrough announced, effective Sunday, August 9, a minimum unemployment rate of 13.1 per cent will be applied temporarily for all EI economic regions across the country.

This means all eligible Canadians can receive a minimum entitlement of 26 weeks of benefits. As well, the amount you would receive will be based on your best weeks of earnings instead of the average.

With the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) winding down soon, Qualtrough says it was important to ensure those who have been out of work for much of this year can continue to make ends meet.

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“Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, our Government has taken action to support Canadians and businesses facing financial hardship. As we carefully and gradually restart parts of our economy, we recognize that many Canadian workers continue to face challenges.”

“The temporary use of a national minimum unemployment rate for the EI program will help more people access EI regular benefits and provide eligible Canadians with access to a minimum 26 weeks of benefits.”

8.5-million Canadians have received money through CERB to date. It is estimated that the program will have cost over $70-billion by its conclusion.

While the federal government will be using an unemployment baseline of 13.1 per cent, the jobless figure in the Lethbridge-Medicine Hat region was 9.5 per cent in July and 12.8 per cent for Alberta.

by David Opinko