Suitable Employment: EI

Employment Insurance Act Dept: Under the existing Employment Insurance Act, the government already has the power to terminate EI benefits if a claimant refuses to take suitable employment. That s a term that isn t explicitly defined in the law, but numerous court rulings have said personal considerations must be taken into account, such as geography and experience. Essentially, an out-of-work scientist can t be denied EI for refusing to dig ditches or pick fruit, according to Globe and Mail. Although the reference to suitable employment in the budget bill is vague, EI experts who cross-referenced the section with existing legislation say the government is clearly planning to give itself more power and yet, even though the provision is currently before MPs, Human Resources Minister Diane Finley is refusing to explain its purpose other than to say further details will be announced over the coming months. The budget bill contains a small section that allows cabinet through regulation to define suitable employment. Ottawa isn t saying what it has in mind, but Immigration Minister Jason Kenney recently expressed his frustration that Prince Edward Island was bringing in temporary foreign workers to fill fish plant jobs even though many Canadians in the area are unemployed. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.