The government launched a new, national Employment Insurance (EI) pilot project Aug. 5 that will allow Canadians to keep more of their earnings while they receive EI benefits.
Langley MP Mark Warawa made the announcement on Aug. 2 on behalf of the Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources.
“Our government’s top priorities are job creation, economic growth and long-term prosperity for Canadians,” Warawa said.
“This new pilot project will let EI claimants keep more of what they earn, ensuring they always benefit from accepting available work.”
Through the Economic Action Plan 2012, the government introduced the national EI pilot project, Working While on Claim, which increases the incentive for claimants to accept available jobs by allowing them to keep more of what they earn while on EI, as benefits are only reduced by 50 percent of total earnings from working while on claim.
“I have heard from many Langley constituents who have been on Employment Insurance, complain that up to now, they have had to refuse paid work while on claim because the dollar for dollar clawback, plus childcare costs involved with going to work, make working while on claim a financial loss,” Warawa said.
“This pilot project should encourage more Canadians to get increased work experience and learn new skills while on claim.”
The Working While on Claim pilot is one of many recent improvements the Ottawa has made to the EI program. In the spring, the government announced several targeted, common-sense changes to encourage Canadians to stay active in the job market and to remove disincentives to work.
These changes include better connecting Canadians to available opportunities in their local area, clarifying their responsibilities while collecting EI, and establishing a new pan-Canadian approach for calculating EI benefits so that those living in regions with comparable labour market conditions receive similar benefits.
More information is available at www.actionplan.gc.ca.
