Evidence of meeting #44 for Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities in the 40th Parliament, 2nd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was processing.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Operations Branch, Service Canada
--allow employers to not have to give a paper copy to the employee when they submit electronically to the department.
Conservative
Maurice Vellacott Conservative Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK
When was that regulation changed? Just in the last months?
Assistant Deputy Minister, Operations Branch, Service Canada
Yes. It was done in March 2009.
Conservative
Maurice Vellacott Conservative Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK
Thanks very much. I appreciate that. That's good sense to make a change in the regulation, which obviously helps a great deal at this in time.
On the work sharing, there were some questions before. I'm quite interested in the WS program. You say, Paul, on page 8 in the English version, “In addition, access to the program is being improved with greater flexibility in the qualifying criteria and the streamlining of processes for employers.” In the time remaining here, I'd be interested in hearing what those are.
Can you tell us, Joanne, what those qualifying criteria are, and what is the streamlining?
Assistant Deputy Minister, Program Operations Branch, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
I can talk about the program. I'll leave the streamlining on the EI side to my colleague.
Conservative
Maurice Vellacott Conservative Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK
So you're going to tell me the qualifying criteria?
Assistant Deputy Minister, Program Operations Branch, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
Yes.
Conservative
Maurice Vellacott Conservative Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK
Could you try to limit it so I can get an answer to the other part?
Assistant Deputy Minister, Program Operations Branch, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
Yes, absolutely. On the qualifying, as I said before, it was the 14 weeks, definitely the additional 14 weeks, but on the qualifying, there was also the streamlining. We've lessened the requirements in terms of the recovery plan.
When an employer comes to us, they usually have to provide us with a very detailed recovery plan as to exact dates and so on. We lessened the burden in terms of some of those requirements on the recovery plan to make it easier for people to apply in this economic downturn, because we all know it's because of the economy. That was something we did.
Conservative
Maurice Vellacott Conservative Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK
So they still have to convince you that they have a recovery plan in place.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Program Operations Branch, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
Absolutely. They have to demonstrate for us exactly what they are doing within the company to cut the costs.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Program Operations Branch, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
They have to demonstrate that and they also have to talk about what they're doing in terms of marketing, such as trying to expand their markets abroad and that type of thing.
But I think what we've lessened is probably the recovery date, because usually we had to have a very specific date. In this economy, we recognize that it's harder for an employer to provide us right now with exactly when they're going to bounce back. They're providing some timeframes, but it's not as strict as it was before.
Conservative
Maurice Vellacott Conservative Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK
In particular, it's not as strict in terms of the timeframe.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Program Operations Branch, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
That's correct.
Conservative
Maurice Vellacott Conservative Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK
They need to have a good process through this whole thing.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Program Operations Branch, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
That's correct. They still have to present a very detailed business case.
Conservative
Maurice Vellacott Conservative Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK
Right--a convincing case.
On streamlining, who's responding?
Assistant Deputy Minister, Operations Branch, Service Canada
For work sharing, yes, absolutely. Again, before we were allowed the changes in the regulations in the spring for work sharing, each and every client receiving employment insurance benefits had to report on the small report card for the questions, and they needed the signature of the employer as well.
With the changes in the regulations, we were allowed what we call an exception report, which means that the employer submits the information to us, we pay the clients, and they only have to report if there are exceptions--if they work elsewhere, for example, or if they were not available on certain days when they were unemployed. This means that we can pay our clients who are on work sharing in a simpler way, a faster way, and still with high quality.
Bloc
Carole Lavallée Bloc Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC
I would like to come back to the Bankruptcy Act, and specifically the reforms providing for a program to assist workers who have lost their jobs because their employer declared bankruptcy. Are you familiar with this legislation? Do you require additional information?
Just for the benefit of my colleagues, this program provides for a refund of up to $3,000, if memory serves me, to be provided to a worker. This is compensation for wages that were not paid for unused vacation. It allows the worker to immediately receive the money his employer lost when declaring bankruptcy, rather than having to wait or try to collect it himself.
Last year, I wrote to the Minister of Labour. I asked when the program would be implemented and when workers who had lost their job because of a bankruptcy could go to an EI office to avail themselves of this program.
So, I would like to know whether this program is up and running and how it works exactly.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Operations Branch, Service Canada
Yes, the program is up and running. It is called the Wage Earner Protection Program. A centre of excellence processes all the applications under this program. When someone applies, we work with the bankruptcy trustee to have access to all the information. That enables us, in accordance with the program criteria, to refund the kinds of things you have referred to.
Bloc
Carole Lavallée Bloc Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC
When a worker comes to one of your offices, what does he have to do to participate in the program? I am sure you know that all workers may not necessarily be aware of this program.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Operations Branch, Service Canada
In terms of finding out about the program, we have been working very closely on this with bankruptcy trustees and worker protection groups. Bankruptcy trustee representatives, in particular, are now able to provide information to our clients as to how to access the program and let them know where they can obtain an application form. And, of course, that information is available on the Internet. The people responsible for implementing the Bankruptcy Act, as well as the working group, also have access to information through the Internet. We are trying to reach out to workers in many different ways, to ensure that they understand that they have to apply.
Bloc
