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).