Service Canada and Employment Social Development Canada

Human Resources Skills Development Canada: Calls to Service Canada 1-800 EI information line are often met with wait times of more than 10 minutes or an automated message that tells people looking for help with their claims that the centres are experiencing a high volume of calls, according to Globe and Mail. The Liberals have blamed the Conservatives for the problem because they cut hundreds of millions to Human Resources and Skills Development Canada – now renamed Employment and Social Development Canada – including staff reductions at the call centres. The government hopes to start work on the improvements in May, with visits to Service Canada call centres to consult front-line staff and the union that represents them, and other stakeholders, according to sources. Data obtained through Access to Information show that the number of calls answered decreased from 286,321 in September, 2015, to 258,047 calls in January of this year. That is well below the government national service standard. The data also show the wait to speak with an agent increased from about 11 minutes to 20 minutes in the same time period. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.