We understand that the employment insurance system was not prepared for a situation like the one we have experienced. It is truly a cataclysm. Currently, the employment insurance plan protects only 45% of workers. It leaves out large segments of the population, and this crisis has shown us that.
There are approximately 20 million people in the labour force in Canada, 15% of whom are self-employed. They have no protection through employment insurance, aside from a few sickness benefits. It's a bit complicated, and few have paid into it.
Given gig employment and the many changes in the working world, such as telework, there will be environmental transitions. These will transform the working world, and the employment insurance program is not ready for that at this time. That is why the government must start the vast initiative needed to reflect on all of this and give us a modern system.