It was really quite simple. The Prime Minister's original promise was simply to provide maternity and parental benefits. In talking with and listening to the self-employed, we realized that they wanted more. They were even more interested in the other special benefits. Actuarially it made sense, so that's the path we pursued.
As I was explaining to Monsieur Lessard, it is very difficult to contemplate how to bring in regular EI benefits for the self-employed. How does one determine if the self-employed person has laid himself or herself off? How do you have an objective measurement that the business has indeed ceased to operate for a period of time, and it's not just that the operator wants to take some time off for an extended vacation?
The life events that are covered by the special benefits are readily documented--a birth, an adoption, a gravely ill family member, their own extended illness or work injury. These are all things that can be objectively documented.
We've looked around the world, and so far no one has been able to come up with a reliable mechanism of income supports in the event of a person laying themselves off, so to speak.