Seasonal Workers: Regional Tensions

EI Dept: A policy that takes into account a person s historic use of EI will most directly affect seasonal workers who use EI year after year. That risks igniting regional tensions, particularly in Atlantic Canada where there are a higher proportion of those workers than in the rest of the country, according to Globe and Mail. The Conservative government s omnibus budget bill, C-38, removes key sections of the Employment Insurance Act that relate to the type of jobs EI recipients can refuse as unsuitable. New rules will be introduced later by regulation after the bill is passed and sources say the new rules will clearly define how much less pay Canadians on EI should be prepared to accept in comparison to their last job. One option under consideration would allow first-time EI recipients to turn down a job and remain on EI if it pays less than 90 per cent of their previous wage. However, that percentage would decline for repeat users of the program, possibly to 85 or 80 per cent. The Globe has also learned that Ottawa wants to toughen up enforcement of the EI rules so that Canadians who refuse available jobs in their area will lose their benefits. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.