If I may, Canadians will be better off in the sense that Canadians are premium payers—at least those who contribute to the EI program—and they will have the certainty that if there is a surplus, it will be returned to them as premium payers through lower premiums, if there is such a thing as a surplus going forward.
With respect to the benefit rate, it will still be for the government to decide the rate of benefits, or any changes to benefits. So the crown corporation will not change the benefits; it will only have the power to set the rate. If there's a surplus, Canadians can have assurances from the moment Bill C-50receives royal assent onwards that the premiums they pay to the EI program will not be used for other purposes, towards reducing the debt for example. It will be used solely to pay for EI benefits, and if there's a surplus, it will be returned through lower premiums.
That's the big benefit to Canadians, in my opinion.