Again, this flows from the testimony of witnesses who raised some serious concerns, so we're putting this forward. If we are not willing to respond in some way when we think there's a good idea that would make both the bill and public policy better, then why would we have committee hearings in the first place?
The amendment is designed to ensure that companies do not evade their responsibility to provide employees with employee insurance benefits. There are many cases of people who are treated as self-employed contractors by companies and with whom they have what amounts to a standard employer-employee relationship. Such arrangements allow a company to avoid paying regular benefits, including the employer's portion of EI premiums.
The bill as it currently stands creates an incentive for unscrupulous employers to move more of their employees into false self-employment so as to save on EI premium payments. This amendment will make that more difficult. I think it is a move that will protect workers, and it will protect the government in terms of the amount of money that will have to be paid out according to this act.