The Liberal government left employment insurance reform out of the federal budget this week over concern that reforming the program amid a slowing economy could drive up premiums for workers and employers.

ThatB次元官网网址檚 according to a spokesperson for Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough, who said the federal government B次元官网网址渞emains committed to modernizing the EI system.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淗owever, the current and near-term economic context caution against measures that could put pressure on EI premiums and we needed to be careful about any decision that could make it harder for workers and employers to make ends meet,B次元官网网址� the spokesperson said in an email.

After the last federal election, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau handed out a mandate letter that tasked Qualtrough with bringing forward and implementing a plan to B次元官网网址渕odernize the EI system for the 21st centuryB次元官网网址� by summer 2022.

As the summer was ending, the minister promised reform was coming soon. B次元官网网址淏y the end of the year, youB次元官网网址檒l know what the vision for EI is,B次元官网网址� she said in September.

There was scant hope that, several months into 2023, the federal budget would finally hint at the governmentB次元官网网址檚 plans. Sure enough, its narrow focus on the clean economy and health care left other agenda items off the table.

The federal government, which is now expecting a mild recession this year, appears to be avoiding EI reform right now so as to not drive up the cost of the program. A recession would likely come with job losses. Expanding eligibility now could result in even more people tapping into the program.

But with this latest delay, labour groups and experts are getting impatient.

There is a long list of complaints about the current structure of the program, on its eligibility requirements, financing and administrative technology. But the central concern for workers is that too few can access the program.

In 2021, the Liberals had campaigned on a promise to modernize EI and pledged to expand the program to cover self-employed workers and address gaps highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland signalled Thursday that broader reforms are still coming.

B次元官网网址淢y colleague Carla Qualtrough B次元官网网址� is hard at work on broader EI improvements and that is important work that has to be done thoughtfully and carefully,B次元官网网址� she told reporters in Surrey, B.C.

Freeland cited two changes to EI announced in the budget.

One measure proposes extending a temporary change to EI introduced in 2018 that increases the number of weeks of coverage available to seasonal workers. The other aims to strengthen prohibitions against employee misclassification for federally regulated gig workers.

The National Council of Unemployed Workers reacted to the budget by calling on the NDP to withdraw its support of the Liberal government through the partiesB次元官网网址� supply-and-confidence agreement.

B次元官网网址淲e are fully disappointed, because the government is betraying its commitment and choosing once again the status quo,B次元官网网址� Pierre C茅r茅, a spokesperson for the group, said in a statement.

B次元官网网址淚n light of this situation, we are asking the NDP to withdraw its confidence in the government and for MPs to put their seats on the line over this issue.B次元官网网址�

A member of the Canadian Employment Insurance Commission, which includes both labour and business voices and helps to oversee and review the EI system, added to the criticism.

Pierre Lalibert茅, its commissioner for workers, said it was B次元官网网址渧ery disappointingB次元官网网址� to see EI reform left out of the budget.

At the very minimum, the federal government could have included interim measures to address major gaps and expand access, he said. B次元官网网址淚t really is absolutely bizarre that the government would not have seen fit to at least B次元官网网址� plug some holes here and there.B次元官网网址�

During the pandemic, the government had expanded access to the EI system via temporary measures. Those expired in September, despite staunch opposition from labour groups and the NDP.

Under the temporary measures, workers qualified for EI based on a national requirement of having worked 420 insurable employment hours, whereas workers would normally need between 420 and 700 hours depending on the regional unemployment rate. And monies paid upon a workerB次元官网网址檚 separation from a job, such as severance, were not deducted from the benefits.

The lack of clarity on the future of EI reform comes as many economists anticipate the Canadian economy will enter a mild recession this year, which is expected to come with some job losses.

Canadian Labour Congress president Bea Bruske said implementing EI reform would help B次元官网网址渞ecession-proofB次元官网网址� the economy for workers by ensuring the social safety net can support those who face layoffs.

But Lalibert茅 said EI reform doesnB次元官网网址檛 appear to be a priority for the Liberals or NDP. Both have been more focused on delivering a federal dental care plan, he said, despite health care being under provincial jurisdiction and the EI program being a federal responsibility.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not sexy,B次元官网网址� Lalibert茅 said of EI reform. B次元官网网址淎nnouncing something new, like dental care B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 glamorous, right?B次元官网网址�

In a statement, NDP deputy finance critic Peter Julian said New Democrats are proud of what they accomplished for Canadians in the budget, but they are B次元官网网址渘ot satisfied.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚t is shameful that the Liberals failed to include EI reform in the 2023 budget as economists are warning that weB次元官网网址檙e heading into a recession,B次元官网网址� Julian said.

B次元官网网址淣ew Democrats will continue to push the Liberals to reform EI and make sure no worker is left behind.B次元官网网址�

Nojoud Al Mallees, The Canadian Press

Like us on and follow us on .