Evidence of meeting #52 for Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was information.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:05 p.m.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Mr. Chair, I want to add something.
This is serious; there is a reason for all this. Mr. Lessard did indeed request the information during the briefing. I was there. I can say in all honesty that the Bloc Québécois made the request directly to the House of Commons and once again after that. To think that the committee should get down on its knees and beg for documentation is just wrong.
It is a sad state of affairs when the document comes in at 9 o'clock this morning, and we are in the midst of arguing before going to a vote. In case some of you did not know, we have messengers who deliver documents to us. The documents could have been photocopied and hand delivered to us directly.
This is not how we should work. I will not waste any more time. We should take the 10 minutes and then go back to studying the bill, because workers are waiting for it.
4:10 p.m.
Conservative
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
I hope everyone has had enough time to look at that now.
I apologize, Mr. Lessard, for maybe cutting off discussion a little bit quickly on that. I want to come back to you to see if there are any more questions, and if there aren't, then I'm going to look at clause-by-clause consideration.
Are there any more comments?
Mr. Lessard, go ahead, sir.
4:20 p.m.
Bloc
Yves Lessard Bloc Chambly—Borduas, QC
Mr. Beauséjour, are you the one in charge of sending the letters?
4:20 p.m.
Director General, Employment Insurance Policy, Skills and Employment Branch, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
No, operations did that.
4:20 p.m.
Director General, Employment Insurance Policy, Skills and Employment Branch, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
They go out automatically.
4:20 p.m.
Bloc
Yves Lessard Bloc Chambly—Borduas, QC
There is someone who can give us the information.
If I understand correctly, you sent two letters, one in the spring, as you told us during previous meetings, and another just recently?
4:20 p.m.
Director General, Employment Insurance Policy, Skills and Employment Branch, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
There were two types of correspondence. One was sent when the measure came into force, in May. Since then, letters have been sent out automatically as soon as someone files a claim. That is standard correspondence.
4:20 p.m.
Bloc
4:20 p.m.
Director General, Employment Insurance Policy, Skills and Employment Branch, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
I do not recall the exact number of letters that went out when the measure came into force. I just know that from the beginning until now, meaning up to October 2, around 379,000 letters have been sent out.
4:20 p.m.
Director General, Employment Insurance Policy, Skills and Employment Branch, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
Yes.
4:20 p.m.
Bloc
Yves Lessard Bloc Chambly—Borduas, QC
Were the letters you sent out up to October 2 addressed to the same people as those in the spring or to others as well?
4:20 p.m.
Director General, Employment Insurance Policy, Skills and Employment Branch, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
The new letters are personalized; they are part of the correspondence when someone files a claim. The procedure is the same as when we notify people that they are eligible for benefits, when they apply. We let them know that they qualify for benefits, and we tell them how many weeks they are entitled to. At the same time, we let them know that if they satisfy the definition of a “long-tenured worker”, they may qualify for the new career transition assistance initiatives and should contact their local or regional centres for information.
4:20 p.m.
Bloc
Yves Lessard Bloc Chambly—Borduas, QC
Yes.
From what I understand, those 379,000 letters were sent to the 30% of people who will exhaust their employment insurance benefits.
4:20 p.m.
Director General, Employment Insurance Policy, Skills and Employment Branch, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
No, it means that out of all the claimants, there are 30% or so who satisfy the definition of a “long-tenured worker”. The letters are sent to those who meet the criteria of that definition. They are not necessarily people who will exhaust their benefits; it is really those who satisfy the definition of a “long-tenured worker”.
4:20 p.m.
Bloc
Yves Lessard Bloc Chambly—Borduas, QC
In a previous meeting, you, or someone on your staff, told us that 28% to 30%, depending on the periods, of all those who collect EI benefits will exhaust those benefits. Do you agree with that?
4:20 p.m.
Director General, Employment Insurance Policy, Skills and Employment Branch, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
I do not recall what was said at the time, but as indicated in the letter explaining how costs are calculated, 30% of claimants meet the definition of “long-tenured worker” and of that number, 20% will exhaust their benefits.
4:20 p.m.
Bloc
Yves Lessard Bloc Chambly—Borduas, QC
I see. Of this group of individuals who stand to exhaust their benefits, how many are salaried workers? Are we talking about 379,000 people?
4:20 p.m.
Director General, Employment Insurance Policy, Skills and Employment Branch, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
No. When evaluating costs on an annual basis, for 2006, we see that approximately 120,000 claimants meet the definition of “long-tenured worker”, and will exhaust their benefits.
4:20 p.m.
Bloc
Yves Lessard Bloc Chambly—Borduas, QC
And these are people who will have reached the end of their benefit period?
4:25 p.m.
Director General, Employment Insurance Policy, Skills and Employment Branch, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
That is correct. They are long-tenured workers and they will reach the end of their benefit period. In all, 120,000 people will be affected in a one-year period.