Human Resources committee  It might be helpful for committee members, as background, to elaborate that the EI program supports the delivery of sickness benefits to Canadians in two ways. For about six million Canadians, the program supports the delivery of sickness benefits through private sector employe

Human Resources committee  There are two potential issues. One of the issues is, within the context of EI and the role it plays, is the duration currently appropriate? Is 15 weeks serving the needs within the policy objective? We know that about one-third of people use all their benefits, so there is a que

Human Resources committee  As proposed, the bill would increase sickness benefits under EI by 35 weeks, from 15 weeks to 50 weeks. At this point in time, based on the information we have, we wouldn't be able to conclude whether that full extension would be consistent with the intention of EI sickness benef

Human Resources committee  That's correct. This would provide additional benefits only to those presently covered under employment insurance. So those are employees, but it would not include people who are not covered under the Employment Insurance Act. An example would be self-employed persons, which is a

Human Resources committee  I'll speak first to the issue of maternity parental benefits provided under the EI program, if that's okay, and I'll then speak to the issue of coverage for people earning their income from farming. These are somewhat different questions. With respect to maternity parental benef

Human Resources committee  In terms of qualifying, they accumulate qualification at the same rate. In terms of benefit payouts, however, if someone meets the qualifications for unemployment during, say, that six-month period, they would be eligible for unemployment insurance.

Human Resources committee  If a person loses their employment after generating enough hours to qualify and they meet the other conditions for applying for EI, yes, they can receive employment insurance during that period.

Human Resources committee  There's one additional thing that I should mention. As was alluded to earlier, the benefit entitlements and the qualification rates are dependent on the unemployment rate in the regions, so it tends to be responsive to areas of high unemployment.

Human Resources committee  In terms of current provisions of the Employment Insurance Act, I don't believe there would be a provision that encourages movement of unemployed workers per se. I could look into whether there have been programs in the past. I believe there was a program somewhat before my time

Human Resources committee  No.

Human Resources committee  Not that I'm aware of, but I'll undertake to look into it.

Human Resources committee  There are parameters in the EI act that are income sensitive. First of all, in terms of the contribution, the amount of insured employment you are covered for is up to $39,000. So you pay premiums on only $39,000 of your income. In terms of receiving EI, if you become unemployed

Human Resources committee  No, it's not. It doesn't vary based on the type of employment you're in.

Human Resources committee  There are probably two aspects to your question to respond to. First is the accumulation of hours for insurability, and Madam Carroll addressed that a little earlier. In 1996, there was a move to an hours-based system, so the contributions are based on the hours of work. If that'

Human Resources committee  I hesitate to speak directly to the issue of the costs of the recommendations, without knowing more precisely which one you--