Bill C-50 (Historical)

An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act and to increase benefits

This bill is from the 40th Parliament, 2nd session, which ended in December 2009.

Sponsor

Status

This bill has received Royal Assent and is now law.

Summary

This is from the published bill. The Library of Parliament has also written a full legislative summary of the bill.

This enactment amends the Employment Insurance Act until September 11, 2010 to increase the maximum number of weeks for which benefits may be paid to certain claimants. It also increases the maximum number of weeks for which benefits may be paid to certain claimants not in Canada.

Elsewhere

All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.

Bill numbers are reused for different bills each new session. Perhaps you were looking for one of these other C-50s:

C-50 (2023) Law Canadian Sustainable Jobs Act

C-50 (2017) Law An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act (political financing)

C-50 (2014) Citizen Voting Act

C-50 (2012) Law Appropriation Act No. 4, 2012-13

Votes

Nov. 3, 2009 Passed That the Bill be now read a third time and do pass.

Nov. 2, 2009 Passed That Bill C-50, An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act and to increase benefits, {as amended}, be concurred in at report stage [with a further amendment/with further amendments] .

Nov. 2, 2009 Passed That Bill C-50, in Clause 1, be amended by replacing lines 9 to 25 on page 1 with the following: “( a) the number of weeks of benefits set out in the table in Schedule I that applies in respect of a claimant is increased as a result of the application of any of subsections 12(2.1) to (2.4), in which case (i) in respect of a benefit period established for the claimant on or after January 4, 2009 that has not ended on the day on which this subsection is deemed to have come into force, the length of the claimant’s benefit period is increased by the number of weeks by which the number of weeks of benefits set out in the table in Schedule I that applies in respect of the claimant is increased as a result of the application of any of subsections 12(2.1) to (2.4), and (ii) in respect of a benefit period established for the claimant during the period that begins on the day on which this subsection is deemed to have come into force and ends on September 11, 2010, if the maximum number of weeks during which benefits may be paid to the claimant under subsection 12(2) is equal to or greater than 51 weeks as a result of the application of any of subsections 12(2.1) to (2.4), the length of the claimant’s benefit period is that maximum number of weeks increased by two weeks; or ( b) the number of weeks of benefits set out in Schedule 10 to the Budget Implementation Act, 2009 that applies in respect of a claimant is increased as a result of the application of any of sections 3 to 6 of An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act and to increase benefits, introduced in the second session of the fortieth Parliament as Bill C-50, in which case(i) in respect of a benefit period established for the claimant on or after January 4, 2009 that has not ended on the day on which this subsection is deemed to have come into force, the length of the claimant’s benefit period is increased by the number of weeks by which the number of weeks of benefits set out in that Schedule 10 that applies in respect of the claimant is increased as a result of the application of any of those sections 3 to 6, and (ii) in respect of a benefit period established for the claimant during the period that begins on the day on which this subsection is deemed to have come into force and ends on September 11, 2010, if the maximum number of weeks during which benefits may be paid to the claimant under that Schedule 10 is equal to or greater than 51 weeks as a result of the application of any of those sections 3 to 6, the length of the claimant’s benefit period is that maximum number of weeks increased by two weeks.”

Sept. 29, 2009 Passed That the Bill be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities.

Motions in AmendmentEmployment Insurance ActGovernment Orders

November 2nd, 2009 / 1:55 p.m.

Conservative

Ben Lobb Conservative Huron—Bruce, ON

Mr. Speaker, I serve on the committee with the member for Sault Ste. Marie and his colleague from New Brunswick, who have worked very hard in committee on the bill and asked a lot of difficult questions of the witnesses as they have appeared.

The member commented about the interests of workers, the impact the bill would have on long-tenured workers throughout Canada and the benefits there would be for the people who have worked hard and paid into employment insurance for many years, as have many workers in the riding of Huron—Bruce.

I wonder if the hon. member for Sault Ste. Marie could comment a little more about what he feels the impacts could be in his own community. What would the constituents of Sault Ste. Marie see as the possible benefits of the bill compared to the possible benefits of having an election?

Motions in AmendmentEmployment Insurance ActGovernment Orders

November 2nd, 2009 / 1:55 p.m.

NDP

Tony Martin NDP Sault Ste. Marie, ON

Mr. Speaker, certainly there are workers across all of northern Ontario who would benefit from this bill passing in the House.

In my own community, people ask me on a fairly regular basis when this bill is going to pass, because they are reaching a point where they will need it in order to put bread on the table, pay bills and buy themselves a little time until the economy recovers in such a way that they can find work. It would, indeed, help a lot of people in my own community and across northern Ontario, and for that I am thankful.

The House resumed consideration of Bill C-50, An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act and to increase benefits, as reported (without amendment) from the committee, and of the motions in Group No. 1.

Employment Insurance ActGovernment Orders

November 2nd, 2009 / 3:30 p.m.

The Speaker Peter Milliken

Is the House ready for the question?

Employment Insurance ActGovernment Orders

November 2nd, 2009 / 3:30 p.m.

Some hon. members

Question.

Employment Insurance ActGovernment Orders

November 2nd, 2009 / 3:30 p.m.

The Speaker Peter Milliken

The question is on Motion No 1. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

Employment Insurance ActGovernment Orders

November 2nd, 2009 / 3:30 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

No.

Employment Insurance ActGovernment Orders

November 2nd, 2009 / 3:30 p.m.

The Speaker Peter Milliken

All those in favour of the motion will please say yea.

Employment Insurance ActGovernment Orders

November 2nd, 2009 / 3:30 p.m.

Some hon. members

Yea.

Employment Insurance ActGovernment Orders

November 2nd, 2009 / 3:30 p.m.

The Speaker Peter Milliken

All those opposed will please say nay.

Employment Insurance ActGovernment Orders

November 2nd, 2009 / 3:30 p.m.

Some hon. members

Nay.

Employment Insurance ActGovernment Orders

November 2nd, 2009 / 3:30 p.m.

The Speaker Peter Milliken

In my opinion the yeas have it.

And five or more members having risen:

Call in the members.

And the bells having rung:

At the request of the chief government whip, the vote on the motion will be deferred until the conclusion of government orders later this day.

The House proceeded to the consideration of Bill C-50, An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act and to increase benefits, as reported (without amendment) from the committee, and of the motions in group No. 1.

Employment Insurance ActGovernment Orders

November 2nd, 2009 / 6:30 p.m.

The Deputy Speaker Andrew Scheer

It being 6:30 p.m., the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded divisions on the motions at report stage of Bill C-50.

Call in the members.

And the bells having rung: