The current economic crisis has served to highlight how inadequate the country’s Employment Insurance system has become – especially for workers in hard-hit sectors; for some regions of the country; and for workers in precarious/non-standard work.  In addition, the level of benefits for all workers is inadequate.

The economic crisis has also shed a very bright light on how badly the federal government has mismanaged this program with respect to the surpluses (which were used for non- EI purposes such as deficit elimination and paying down the debt) and failing to maximize the program’s ability to act as an economic stabilizer.

Imagine if just a portion of the $57 billion in EI surpluses were sitting in the fund today. The question of helping Canadians through the dark economic days would be easily answered. Of course, had the program (benefit levels, access, etc) been improved over the past decade, those measures would be in place today when so many Canadians need them.

Despite this, the EI program is the single, biggest important social program we have in terms of a social safety net/ income replacement for people who lose their jobs. It also supports adult training in the country through the Labour Market Development Agreements. The problem is level of benefits, access, and duration.

The labour movement will continue to fight for an Employment Insurance Program that works for working people.

Click here to read a backgrounder on employment Insurance - "Fixing EI so it Works for Working People"

Read the NLFL President's letter to the Prime Minister urging him to extend EI pilot projects and stimulus measures.