How is EI changing under Canada’s tariff relief plan — and is it enough?
The federal government is modifying some Employment Insurance (EI) benefits for workers impacted by U.S. tariffs as they take hold on Canada's economy, but do they go far enough?
Canada's federal government has announced tariff relief measures aimed at supporting workers impacted by new U.S. tariffs. The plan includes temporary changes to Employment Insurance (EI) benefits to ease the financial burden on those affected. Teilen Celentano, an employment lawyer, notes that while these measures may help workers make ends meet for a short period, longer periods of unemployment could still make it difficult to pay bills, keep a roof over their head, and put food on the table.
The new EI provisions include a one-year extension to the eligibility period for workers who voluntarily leave their job and later lose a new job through no fault of their own. Previously, those who resigned were not eligible for EI for 52 weeks. Additionally, the one-week waiting period before workers can receive EI benefits has been waived for an additional year.
Furthermore, workers will be able to "double-dip" by receiving EI benefits while still receiving severance pay or vacation pay. For long-tenured workers, the government will extend an extra 20 weeks of EI benefits. However, employment experts suggest that these measures may not be sufficient, and the government could consider increasing payment amounts to better support those impacted by the tariff relief plan.
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