A series of consultations were held and championed by Ms. Glover and Ms. Leitch throughout the fall of 2011. The government heard that they wanted to ensure predictability and stability of the EI premium rates. Those changes were made as a result of these consultations, so the 5ยข was seen as a way to stabilize and to ensure that rates are going up or down in a marginal way so that employers and employees can adjust accordingly.
Similarly, there was a decision in budget 2012 to advance the date at which the rate was set by two months to give employees and employers more time, from September to next year, to adjust whatever systems they needed to and to be able to plan accordingly.