In the last budget, the federal government promised to create a new independent body, the Canada Employment Insurance Financing Board to determine EI premium rates from 2009 and on. However, according to an article on the Progressive Economics Forum, "The “New” Employment Insurance Fund", the board only responds to employer concerns over paying EI premiums which are “too high” as opposed to worker concerns over access to benefits and benefit rates. The Canadian Labour Congress also criticizes the government for overlooking worker access, especially working women's access to benefits.

For more information read the attached article, "Canada Employment Insurance Financing Board : a step in the right direction?", by two of Canada's most experienced and knowledgeable experts on the EI system, Georges Campeau, professor at the Département des sciences juridiques at l’Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) and Hugo Desgagné, coordinator for Mouvement Autonome et Solidaire des Sans-Emploi (MASSE).

From the Caledon Institute comes a paper on reforming Canada's income security programs and supportive services for working-age adults, which Caledon has dubbed "adult benefits." The first part of the paper explains why current programs – especially welfare and Employment Insurance, the two core adult benefits – fail to meet the needs of working-age Canadians. Fundamental and comprehensive reform is required, through integrated changes to both federal and provincial/territorial programs and a realignment of governments’ roles and responsibilities. The second part offers our thinking on how to build a new architecture for adult benefits. Read the 37 page paper, Towards a New Architecture for Canada's Adult Benefits (in PDF).

The BC Government amended the Employment and Assistance Act, to include sections regarding the specific punishments for recieving more income assistance than the government gives or for recieving income assistance by giving false information.

A year-long appeal by 76 largely poor and elderly Indo-Canadian Farmworkers began in Tax Court in Vancouver on January 9th. The Farmworkers are appealing rulings by the Canada Revenue Agency that they did not work enough hours during the 1997 picking season to qualify for EI. BCPIAC and the Community Legal Assistance Society are working with the Farmworkers Legal Advocacy Program to assist 76 largely poor and elderly Indo-Canadian farmworkers in their appeal to the Tax Court of Canada against charges of EI fraud. Read the BCPIAC report for details about the farmworker's case (in PDF) and a CBC story: "B.C. farm workers fight EI fraud allegations."

Phoenix Print Shop provides homeless and at risk youth with training and employment in the printing and graphics industry. Many of their graduates are employed in their fields and one of them one a very prestigious award.

"Standing Committee on Human Resources and Skills Develomenet, Social Development and Status of Persons with Disabilities submitted a report to the Federal Parliament with 8 recommendations that would establish an independent, arms-length, tripartite Commission to oversee the EI trust fund with a transparent premium setting process. ...the Committee will be studying a further 20 recommendations presented to it by the Subcommittee on the Employment Insurance funds." says a Press Release from the Prince Rupert Unemployed Centre Society. These recommendations would help make E.I. more accessible and more just. Download Subcommittee on the Enmployment Insurance Funds' full report (in PDF).

"A new initiative, Alberta Works, will build on Alberta's success at helping unemployed people find, train for and keep jobs. It will support people when they move into the workforce, help families cover their basic costs of living, and help employers get the skilled workers they need." The Alberta Works website has a number of links to explain the program. The governing Income and Employment Supports Act and Regulations also has information.

In a long-awaited judgment, the Federal Court of Appeal has upheld the federal employment insurance scheme's rules requiring women to work a certain number of hours, saying it is not a breach of equality rights. A case filed in 1998 (The Attorney General of Canada v Kelly Lesiuk A-281-01 : 2003 FCA 3) claimed that changes to the EI act offended Section 15 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms for its disproportional impact on women. While the new changes effected most workers, by requiring them to work longer to collect, it was contended that the greatest impact would be felt by part-time workers who are disproportionately female. The judges found Lesiuk failed to show a history of "disadvantages, stereotyping, vulnerability and prejudice" against women. Read the complete Federal Court of Appeal decision.

Canada's employment insurance laws are constitutionally unfair to women because, as primary caregivers, it is harder for them to work the hours needed to qualify, a tribunal ruled Thursday. "When a mother works part time because of her unpaid parental responsibilities, she should not receive inferior Employment Insurance coverage," Roger Salhany, a retired judge, said in a written decision in the case of Winnipeg nurse Kelly Lesiuk. While Mr. Salhany's ruling doesn't change the law, others hearing similar challenges could follow his lead. If his ruling is upheld on appeal to the Federal Court, Parliament would be forced to act. Mr.Salhany said the rules violate the equality provisions under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, but he noted that he doesn't have the power to strike them down as unconstitutional. Ms.Lesiuk's appeal is considered the leading national case among 60 pending challenges to the act. The full text of the verdict of Ms.Lesuik's appeal is available from the CUBs website.

Advocates have been indicating that fewer people are appealing decisions of the Employment Insurance Commission, not because they are happy with their situation, but because since eligibility requirements have been tightened so drastically since 1996, fewer people are eligible for unemployment insurance in the first place. Online resources that will be helpful for people working in the area include:

Employment Insurance Jurisprudence Library

Government handbooks, pamphlets and rules