QUESTION PERIOD — Employment and Social Development
Employment Insurance--Seasonal Workers
September 27, 2022
My question is for the Government Representative in the Senate. First, I want to thank my colleague, Senator Amina Gerba, for her generosity in allowing us to meaningfully commemorate the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Over the weekend, the temporary EI measures implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic came to an end. For seasonal workers in the lower St. Lawrence and north shore regions, this change means that they will have to work 700 hours instead of 400 hours to qualify for the same 14 weeks of benefits. What this really means is that some families will soon be without income for several weeks, in what’s referred to as the black hole, the period between the time EI benefits run out and the active season starts again in sectors such as tourism and fisheries. We’ve known for decades that the EI system does not reflect the needs of seasonal workers. The government acknowledged this fact when it announced it would reform the system, but it has yet to take action.
Why doesn’t the government extend the temporary EI measures for workers in the lower St. Lawrence and north shore regions until the system is reformed?
Thank you for the question. The government understands full well that EI benefits must be fairer and better reflect the needs of the Canadian labour force, which is constantly changing. For that reason, it has made a commitment to overhaul Canada’s EI system. Although the temporary support measures implemented under the COVID-19 pandemic assistance program are drawing to a close, workers can continue to receive regular EI benefits, as was the case during the pandemic. The government is looking forward to launching its long-term plan to improve Canada’s EI system.
Despite the low unemployment rate and the labour shortage in some sectors, the fact remains that certain regions and industries are known for the seasonal nature of their activities. For example, according to Action-Chômage Côte-Nord, 50% of jobs available on the upper and lower north shores are seasonal because of the nature of local economic activity. Does the government understand that by returning to the old EI rules, some seasonal workers, many of whom are mothers and fathers with children, will have no income for two months? What is it going to do to save these families from the EI black hole?
Thank you for the question, and thank you for noting how important this program is for the well-being of workers and their families. The government is aware of the issue. As I just said, it is working on modernizing the EI system to ensure that it is not only available to those who need it, but equitable for all sectors of our economy.
