Bill C-308 (Unemployment Insurance)

[scribblet]

This is a private member's bill which could pass if the opposition unites in favour of it which they likely will. Quite a drastic reduction in required hours in order to collect pogey, one which could make collecting pogey far more attractive than working. Not to mention that the estimated job losses from this could cost the economy millions of jobs and push premiums up drastically over the next few years. It should be heading for 3rd reading soon.

[Argus]

This is a private member's bill which could pass if the opposition unites in favour of it which they likely will. Quite a drastic reduction in required hours in order to collect pogey, one which could make collecting pogey far more attractive than working. Not to mention that the estimated job losses from this could cost the economy millions of jobs and push premiums up drastically over the next few years. It should be heading for 3rd reading soon.

360 hours is not much more than a month. It's about five weeks, in fact. What used to be called Unemployment Insurance has become federal welfare in much of Eastern Canada, and on the Wet coast, and something like this would only complete the change. Then, when we meet people on "employment insurance" we could automatically just dismiss them as welfare bums.

BTW, everyone I've known on employment insurance in the last decade WAS and remains a lazy bum. Most real workers don't even qualify for it anymore anyway, not in Ontario.

[Michael Hardner]

BTW, everyone I've known on employment insurance in the last decade WAS and remains a lazy bum. Most real workers don't even qualify for it anymore anyway, not in Ontario.

Why not ? I know people in IT, which is quite an up-and-down industry, who have qualified for the maximum benefit after a waiting period.

[nicky10013]

Why not ? I know people in IT, which is quite an up-and-down industry, who have qualified for the maximum benefit after a waiting period.

Because there are "jobs" in Ontario. I volunteered at a constituency office. I got a call from a woman who had slips for 980 hours of work and she was denied EI. Yet, people can get EI in any other province for almost half that. It's not fair.

As for EI being lazy bums, I'd like for people to consider the fact that in this country today it's incredibly hard for people to find work. It's not their fault the economy is contracting. To assume that all people who can't work don't want to work is the worst kind of untrue stereotype.

[Alta4ever]

Because there are "jobs" in Ontario. I volunteered at a constituency office. I got a call from a woman who had slips for 980 hours of work and she was denied EI. Yet, people can get EI in any other province for almost half that. It's not fair.

As for EI being lazy bums, I'd like for people to consider the fact that in this country today it's incredibly hard for people to find work. It's not their fault the economy is contracting. To assume that all people who can't work don't want to work is the worst kind of untrue stereotype.

You mean its hard for people to find a job they want to do.

[Michael Hardner]

Because there are "jobs" in Ontario. I volunteered at a constituency office. I got a call from a woman who had slips for 980 hours of work and she was denied EI. Yet, people can get EI in any other province for almost half that. It's not fair.

Denied EI on what grounds ?

[nicky10013]

You mean its hard for people to find a job they want to do.

It's hard for people to find jobs period.

[nicky10013]

Denied EI on what grounds ?

Not enough hours to qualify.

[Shwa]

This is a private member's bill which could pass if the opposition unites in favour of it which they likely will. Quite a drastic reduction in required hours in order to collect pogey, one which could make collecting pogey far more attractive than working. Not to mention that the estimated job losses from this could cost the economy millions of jobs and push premiums up drastically over the next few years. It should be heading for 3rd reading soon.

Not so drastic:

Bill-308 An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act

Employment Insurance Regular Benefits

How they voted

The basic minimum to qualify is dropping 60 hours from 420 to 360 which is basically targeted at areas with high unemployment; and they are dropping the qualifying period from 52 to weeks to 12 so that if you worked 360 hours in a 12 week period in live in an area of high unemployment, benefits will be made available. This will impact on seasonal workers quite a bit. I believe the rationale is that in areas where work is higher to obtain, benefits can fill the gaps between jobs. It is not like you can work 360 hours, which is roughly full time for 9 weeks, and then take a year off. The benefit period is usually tied into the amount of time that the insurance premiums were paid into.

With the government phasing out some of the temporary benefits and programs to address the recession, this appears to be a measure to ensure that areas where the effects the recession are most acute are addressed. Seems pretty reasonable.

[Shwa]

Not enough hours to qualify.

Really? I find that hard to believe without extra circumstances. According to the table here, the person would have easily qualified:

EI Hours required

There are many factors that affect someone from getting EI benefits - getting fired for misconduct; making a false claim or some other current or previous attempt to scamming EI; or an ineligible qualifying period.

Did you ask her if she appealed the denial and if so what the outcome of the appeal was?

[Topaz]

Times are different and times are hard for some people depending were you live in this country. I live in Ontario, its been hit hard in the manufacturing sector. There are people in it that have only have one more month of EI and then its welfare. Some can't find jobs because no one will hire a person that is mid 50's, they are too old but the employers can't say that, but its true. As as training, yes you can taking are-train course by the government but again if you are in that age bracket you may not find a job. These people are about to lose their homes and they feel helpless. I know people who have gone through their saves and their RRSP's, while trying to find a job. I know people who were forced into retirement, even though they could really afford to go. Most of the "new" jobs the Tories talk about are service part time and these people pay EI and if their job should be gone then they need the help also. Don't put ALL people on EI in one basket, besides it very hard living on 1600 or less, and trying to pay rent/mortgage, food, utilities etc.

[Michael Hardner]

Not enough hours to qualify.

Are the hours different from region to region ?

[Mr.Canada]

I wonder why so many people want to turn Canada into a welfare state.

Benefits for a year after working 2.5 months?

Seems a bit silly to me but like all things I dislike it will probably come to pass. Then our taxes will go up again to pay for this. Those of us that pay taxes will pay even more taxes so people can sit around for a year after working 2.5 months.

This is fair?

[RNG]

Are the hours different from region to region ?

Oh yes. The feds sort of handicap it. A while ago when the oilpatch was booming, you had to have approximately a gazzillion hours if you were in Alberta, but about 5 hours was enough in NL. Obviously I'm using hyperbole but the concept is correct.

[Alta4ever]

It's hard for people to find jobs period.

Really, there are over 5000 listed on monster.ca for toronto.

Like I said there is plenty of work.

[Shwa]

Benefits for a year after working 2.5 months?

Obviously you have no clue how Employement Insurance benefits work do you?

[nicky10013]

Really, there are over 5000 listed on monster.ca for toronto.

Like I said there is plenty of work.

And how many job seekers? Toronto isn't buttfuck Alberta. Our suburbs have more people living in them than your entire province.

[scribblet]

Dan Kelly, senior VP at the CFIB, estimates job losses from the opposition bill could cost the economy millions of dollars among other things it will increase EI benefits and reduce the minimum number of hours of work needed to qualify for EI. It most certainly is about lowering the work hours to get more benefits which could ultimately end up in higher premiums.

This is irresponsible of the opposition but it's obviously political with an eye to bringing down the gov't.

http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/September2010/24/c4899.html

TORONTO, Sept. 24 /CNW/ - The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) has condemned a series of proposed changes to the Employment Insurance (EI) Act currently being contemplated by the House of Commons, calling them irresponsible and damaging to the economy.

=====

The legislative bill in question, C-308, would reduce the qualifying period for EI benefits to 360 hours worked, increase the benefits to 60 per cent of total salary, and base that salary calculation on the highest-paid non-consecutive 12 weeks worked for the employee, among other measures. Earlier this week, all three opposition parties supported pushing the bill forward.

As Canada's largest association of small- and medium-sized businesses, CFIB is Powered by Entrepreneurs™. Established in 1971, CFIB takes direction from more than 107,000 members in every sector nationwide, giving independent business a strong and influential voice at all levels of government and helping to grow the economy.

[Alta4ever]

And how many job seekers? Toronto isn't buttfuck Alberta. Our suburbs have more people living in them than your entire province.

Calgary is Canada's fourth largest city. BTW 5000 plus means more then 5000 that is were monster stopped counting, the number I bet is much larger. Jobs are easy to find, its about whether or not job seekers think they are above doing certain jobs.

[RNG]

Calgary is Canada's fourth largest city. BTW 5000 plus means more then 5000 that is were monster stopped counting, the number I bet is much larger. Jobs are easy to find, its about whether or not job seekers think they are above doing certain jobs.

Given the tone of his reply, I suspect that attempting to offer logic may be a losing proposition.

[Alta4ever]

Given the tone of his reply, I suspect that attempting to offer logic may be a losing proposition.

I do argee.

[nicky10013]

Calgary is Canada's fourth largest city. BTW 5000 plus means more then 5000 that is were monster stopped counting, the number I bet is much larger. Jobs are easy to find, its about whether or not job seekers think they are above doing certain jobs.

Alberta

Population Ranked 4th

Total (2009) 3,724,832

Toronto

- City 2,503,281

York

Population (2006)

- Total 892,712

Durham

Population (2006)

- Total 561,258

Halton

-Population (2006)

- Total 439,526

Peel Region

Population (2006)

- Total 1,159,405

So, without the population of Toronto, the total of the population of the suburbs of Toronto adds up to 3,052,901. Pretty close, eh? (Easily 3x the size of Calgary and it's suburbs)

In the end, like I said, 5000 sounds like a lot (just on monster), but considering that unemployment here is close to 10%. Even if there are 10x the amount of jobs out there on all boards and in all newspapers, that leaves 255,000 people without jobs. That's not even taking into account the 2.5 million Torontonians who all use the same job boards because despite typing in Toronto, it comes up with GTA jobs and all the major job boards duplicate job postings so x10 the amount of jobs is me being VERY VERY VERY generous.

Laugh about the "tone" of responses all you want, it doesn't make anythign I've said not true.

Edited September 26, 2010 by nicky10013

[Smallc]

The Toronto Census Metropolitan Area is very quickly approaching 6M people.

[nicky10013]

The Toronto Census Metropolitan Area is very quickly approaching 6M people.

I wouldn't be surprised to see after the next census period it over 6 by a fairly large margin, not necessarily gigantic by certainly 50,000 if not more. Housing developments and condo developments everywhere.

[Alta4ever]

I wouldn't be surprised to see after the next census period it over 6 by a fairly large margin, not necessarily gigantic by certainly 50,000 if not more. Housing developments and condo developments everywhere.

So bloody what the mass of black holes does have a tendency to increase.