Evidence of meeting #57 for Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was program.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:55 p.m.
Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Processing and Payment Services Branch, Service Canada, Department of Employment and Social Development
Not yet, no.
4:55 p.m.
Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Processing and Payment Services Branch, Service Canada, Department of Employment and Social Development
A little higher than that, better than that.
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
Rodger Cuzner Liberal Cape Breton—Canso, NS
A little higher than that. Do you anticipate lowering the standard again so that it can be attainable?
4:55 p.m.
Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Processing and Payment Services Branch, Service Canada, Department of Employment and Social Development
No, we don't, and there are a number of factors that drive—
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
Rodger Cuzner Liberal Cape Breton—Canso, NS
I only have five minutes, so I appreciate that.
Getting back to what the minister said about 80% payment, was he referring to speed of payment? When Finley was here and she was the minister, she said she couldn't tell us because speed of payment was still notification of non-payment and notification of payment, and she couldn't extract those two numbers from that number.
4:55 p.m.
Senior Associate Deputy Minister, Chief Operating Officer Service Canada, Department of Employment and Social Development
Benoît can correct me if I'm wrong, but it's actually 81.4% now, and it's from application to being put in pay. Am I saying that right?
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
Rodger Cuzner Liberal Cape Breton—Canso, NS
I'm confused. The definition of speed of payment says it's the percentage of EI benefit payments or non-payment notifications issued within 28 days of filing.
4:55 p.m.
Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Processing and Payment Services Branch, Service Canada, Department of Employment and Social Development
The standard applies to both, i.e., the number of people who will be put in pay within or fewer than 28 days as well as the notification sent to claimants who are not eligible that they will not receive a payment.
4:55 p.m.
Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Processing and Payment Services Branch, Service Canada, Department of Employment and Social Development
Correct.
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
Rodger Cuzner Liberal Cape Breton—Canso, NS
People aren't getting cheques; they're getting notice that they aren't getting a cheque.
4:55 p.m.
Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Processing and Payment Services Branch, Service Canada, Department of Employment and Social Development
They're getting notice that they're not eligible, so they would not get a cheque unless their appeal is successful.
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
Rodger Cuzner Liberal Cape Breton—Canso, NS
They're not getting a cheque, and the minister said quite clearly that people were being paid 80% of the time. I think that's why we have to get back to how 700,000 applicants are waiting over...the average is seven weeks.
4:55 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Employment and Social Development
I think the minister was saying that those eligible are receiving their payment at that standard.
4:55 p.m.
Senior Associate Deputy Minister, Chief Operating Officer Service Canada, Department of Employment and Social Development
He clearly used the word “eligible”. I heard him say “eligible”. That's the correct way to say it.
4:55 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Employment and Social Development
Anyway, factually, Mr. Cuzner, that's the standard, that's the definition, and that's the current performance.
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
Rodger Cuzner Liberal Cape Breton—Canso, NS
Okay, so what are we doing about the others who are in? What I understand is that, if it's a “Mc” on the ROE, and it's a “Mac” on the application, if there's anything slightly wrong, that gets kicked out, and then they're not being processed. That's going seven weeks, eight weeks, nine weeks. Some 700,000 Canadians are wrestling with that; 700,000 households are wrestling with that.
4:55 p.m.
Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Processing and Payment Services Branch, Service Canada, Department of Employment and Social Development
It is the nature of the program that, within the first few weeks, if eligibility cannot be established or a claimant is not eligible for whatever reason, then an adjudication or an assessment has to be made. That will take some time longer, and that varies across many, many claimants.
In fact, as you quoted earlier, the 700,000 figure is actually 688,000.
4:55 p.m.
Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Processing and Payment Services Branch, Service Canada, Department of Employment and Social Development
No, it's not because it's better, it's simply because quite a number of Canadians who are claiming may very well have to submit more information or clarify information that's been given. They've been kicked out of the automated process.
5 p.m.
Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Processing and Payment Services Branch, Service Canada, Department of Employment and Social Development
That simply means, Mr. Cuzner, that they will be paid. It's a matter of longer, but they are eligible.
5 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Phil McColeman
That's the end of the time for that round of questioning.
Now we move to Mr. Eglinski.
May 28th, 2015 / 5 p.m.
Conservative
Jim Eglinski Conservative Yellowhead, AB
Thank you to our guests this afternoon.
In economic action plan 2015, I believe you renewed the working while on claim pilot program that was implemented a few years ago. This removes the disincentive to accept available work while on an EI claim.
Does the department have any initial evidence to suggest that this incentive has encouraged workers to work more while on claims? Do you have any results on that?