[Canada] Employment insurance measures for workers impacted by foreign tariffs

Employment and Social Development Canada has stated that tariffs imposed on Canadian goods by the United States and other trading partners are unwarranted and unreasonable and the Government will introduce measures to support impacted workers, Canada.ca reports.

On its website, the Government states that such tariffs will hurt Canadian workers and employers and pose a significant challenge to the Canadian economy.

The Government’s primary focus is reportedly on having these tariffs removed, however, it believes it is equally important to help Canadian workers during a difficult and uncertain time. On March 21, Steven MacKinnon - Minister of Jobs and Families - announced the Government’s intention to introduce new temporary employment insurance (EI) measures to support Canadian workers whose jobs are impacted by the current economic uncertainty caused by these tariffs.

He said, “Canadian workers have always shown resilience in the face of significant challenges, but the impact of tariffs and the resulting economic uncertainty are beyond their control. That’s why the Government of Canada is acting swiftly to make changes to critical programs that protect Canadian jobs and workers and the Canadian economy.”

According to Employment and Social Development Canada, the temporary measures will be implemented through a pilot project and include: 

• Artificially boosting the regional unemployment rates used to determine access to and duration of EI benefits. The rate will reportedly be boosted by one percentage point in all EI regions, with no region seeing an unemployment rate of less than 7.1 per cent. This temporary measure will reduce the hours required to qualify for regular benefits to no higher than 630 hours and increase the weeks of entitlement by up to four additional weeks. This measure will be in effect for three months.

• Allowing claimants to receive EI benefits sooner by suspending the rules around treatment of severance, vacation, and other monies upon separation so that they do not need to be used up before claimants can start receiving EI benefits. This measure will be in effect for six months.

• Waiving the waiting period so that workers will be able to receive benefits for the first week of unemployment, helping unemployed workers more easily adjust to a drop in income. All claimant types (regular, special, fishing) are eligible for this measure. The measure will be in effect for six months.

 
These measures are in addition to the EI Work-Sharing Program temporary flexibilities announced by the Government of Canada on March 7 to make it more accessible to workers and employers.

The Government of Canada stated that it also recognises the important role of provinces and territories in their delivery of employment assistance and retraining for EI-eligible workers. It said the Minister is looking forward to further discussions with provinces and territories on workforce development while advancing labour mobility and foreign credential recognition.

Source: Canada.ca

(Quote via original reporting)

Employment and Social Development Canada has stated that tariffs imposed on Canadian goods by the United States and other trading partners are unwarranted and unreasonable and the Government will introduce measures to support impacted workers, Canada.ca reports.

On its website, the Government states that such tariffs will hurt Canadian workers and employers and pose a significant challenge to the Canadian economy.

The Government’s primary focus is reportedly on having these tariffs removed, however, it believes it is equally important to help Canadian workers during a difficult and uncertain time. On March 21, Steven MacKinnon - Minister of Jobs and Families - announced the Government’s intention to introduce new temporary employment insurance (EI) measures to support Canadian workers whose jobs are impacted by the current economic uncertainty caused by these tariffs.

He said, “Canadian workers have always shown resilience in the face of significant challenges, but the impact of tariffs and the resulting economic uncertainty are beyond their control. That’s why the Government of Canada is acting swiftly to make changes to critical programs that protect Canadian jobs and workers and the Canadian economy.”

According to Employment and Social Development Canada, the temporary measures will be implemented through a pilot project and include: 

• Artificially boosting the regional unemployment rates used to determine access to and duration of EI benefits. The rate will reportedly be boosted by one percentage point in all EI regions, with no region seeing an unemployment rate of less than 7.1 per cent. This temporary measure will reduce the hours required to qualify for regular benefits to no higher than 630 hours and increase the weeks of entitlement by up to four additional weeks. This measure will be in effect for three months.

• Allowing claimants to receive EI benefits sooner by suspending the rules around treatment of severance, vacation, and other monies upon separation so that they do not need to be used up before claimants can start receiving EI benefits. This measure will be in effect for six months.

• Waiving the waiting period so that workers will be able to receive benefits for the first week of unemployment, helping unemployed workers more easily adjust to a drop in income. All claimant types (regular, special, fishing) are eligible for this measure. The measure will be in effect for six months.

 
These measures are in addition to the EI Work-Sharing Program temporary flexibilities announced by the Government of Canada on March 7 to make it more accessible to workers and employers.

The Government of Canada stated that it also recognises the important role of provinces and territories in their delivery of employment assistance and retraining for EI-eligible workers. It said the Minister is looking forward to further discussions with provinces and territories on workforce development while advancing labour mobility and foreign credential recognition.

Source: Canada.ca

(Quote via original reporting)