Amendments to EI

[Topaz]

On Monday, I watched debate in the Commons of a Private Members Bill by the Liberals to extend 5 months of EI to 50 weeks or almost a year, for people with cancer, injuries or quarantine. After all, workers pay into and when cancer other sickness, removes them from work they should be able to draw from EI and in a the case of cancer treatments, the person does need more time to get one's strength back. Do you agree or disagree?

[fellowtraveller]

On Monday, I watched debate in the Commons of a Private Members Bill by the Liberals to extend 5 months of EI to 50 weeks or almost a year, for people with cancer, injuries or quarantine. After all, workers pay into and when cancer other sickness, removes them from work they should be able to draw from EI and in a the case of cancer treatments, the person does need more time to get one's strength back. Do you agree or disagree?

No, not really. EI is intended to be an insurance program for persons able and willing to work and that does not apply to persons with serious illness or injury. Many workers in my province are covered by workers compensation in the case of injury, many have coprorarate or personal disability insurance. In the event of really longterm disability, the province has programs.

One of the possible changes I'd like to see explored is to treat EI like any other available insurance program by making the premiums paid fit the circumstances.

For example, in Alberta you have to work more weeks to qualify for shorter benefit periods, while at the same time you are less likely to be laid off because the economy is stronger. If you live in Quebec, you have to work fewer weeks to draw benefits for a longer time, and are more likely to be unemployed.

It is backwards, and provides no reason for workers to relocate to where there are jobs. If it is not meant to be an actual employment insurance program, change the name to Regional Welfare Program.

Edited February 14, 2012 by fellowtraveller

[RNG]

The reasons in the OP leading to lack of employment are covered by other government entitlements. We don't need to add EI to it.

[Peter F]

On Monday, I watched debate in the Commons of a Private Members Bill by the Liberals to extend 5 months of EI to 50 weeks or almost a year, for people with cancer, injuries or quarantine... Do you agree or disagree?

Agree. Folks who are unable to work due to illness and/or treatment of illness should be able to collect EI if their employer does not have sick pay benefits or those benefits run out.

[fellowtraveller]

Agree. Folks who are unable to work due to illness and/or treatment of illness should be able to collect EI if their employer does not have sick pay benefits or those benefits run out.

Why would any employer continue to offer disability insurance(which is the norm, companies pay for longterm disability programs from a third party supplier) if the government supplies the same thing for nothing? Edited February 15, 2012 by fellowtraveller

[Guest Peeves]

On Monday, I watched debate in the Commons of a Private Members Bill by the Liberals to extend 5 months of EI to 50 weeks or almost a year, for people with cancer, injuries or quarantine. After all, workers pay into and when cancer other sickness, removes them from work they should be able to draw from EI and in a the case of cancer treatments, the person does need more time to get one's strength back. Do you agree or disagree?

Injuries in the workplace are WHIB matters. Cancer is a Health issue. Neither should be under the rubric of E.I. So I don't agree.Liberals want the socialist safety net extended from birth to death regardless the cost to taxpayers, and some taxpayers think that a good idea.

[Peter F]

Why would any employer continue to offer disability insurance(which is the norm, companies pay for longterm disability programs from a third party supplier) if the government supplies the same thing for nothing?

They probly wouldnt. Many don't right now. My daughter is on long term sick leave - all of it unpaid. So she gets EI. Is there some sort of crime here? If so who's the criminal?

[fellowtraveller]

They probly wouldnt. Many don't right now. My daughter is on long term sick leave - all of it unpaid. So she gets EI. Is there some sort of crime here? If so who's the criminal?

Many employers do offer third party longterm disability.

That cost would transfer fully and directly to taxpayers, and get corporations off the hook for benefits they provide now. Oh, and if your family does not have disability insurance through their employer, absolutely nothing stops her from buying some- just as the employers do now.

I don't get how you think your daughters leave is unpaid if she collects EI.

And there are no criminals, but I fail to see how long term disability is related to an employment insurance plan that is primarily intended as a short term bridge with the specific intention of getting people back to work. If a person is not capable of working, they should not be on EI for a long term, unspecified term.

[Peter F]

Many employers do offer third party longterm disability.

Yes many enlighted companies do. But they are few and far between

Oh, and if your family does not have disability insurance through their employer, absolutely nothing stops her from buying some- just as the employers do now.

Many things stop her from getting some - Prohibitive costs being the prime reason.

I don't get how you think your daughters leave is unpaid if she collects EI.

My daughters sick leave is unpaid because the employer has no requirement to pay her when she is off sick. Hard to beleive but true.

That cost would transfer fully and directly to taxpayers, and get corporations off the hook for benefits they provide now

Any company that does provide sick/disability does so due to a contractrual requirement. Thanks be to God for Unions. Without such a requirement do they Pay? Of course not! So you see, your fear that employers wont pay is the Standard at this very moment.

If there is no employer requirement to pay then what is the cost transferred? Zero.

You worry about nothing.

[guyser]

Yes many enlighted companies do. But they are few and far between

Not that I am aware of. The few and far are for short term disability and that is because companies can afford the short , its the long term they do not want to pay.

Every single professional association and association in general has long term available.

My daughters sick leave is unpaid because the employer has no requirement to pay her when she is off sick. Hard to beleive but true.

Got sick off the job you mean.Nothing to do about the job...correct?

Any company that does provide sick/disability does so due to a contractrual requirement. Thanks be to God for Unions.

Er...no.

Thousands of companies in Canada offer LTD and there is no contractual requirement needed.

Edited February 16, 2012 by guyser

[cybercoma]

No, not really. EI is intended to be an insurance program for persons able and willing to work and that does not apply to persons with serious illness or injury. Many workers in my province are covered by workers compensation in the case of injury, many have coprorarate or personal disability insurance. In the event of really longterm disability, the province has programs.

So you would rather they go on welfare than draw from EI?