Stephen Harper could win votes by reforming employment insurance

In a withering economy, Canada should protect its workers first, according to the group that represents Canada’s unionized labour. The Canadian Labour Congress is hoping to influence the federal budget with a document titled Get Real: It’s the Economy—Make It Work for Us. The budget is due to be released on what could be the most dramatic day in the House of Commons in recent memory: January 27.

One of the highlights of Get Real is its section on employment insurance. The document points out there’s currently a $54 billion surplus in the federal fund. Since 1996, it notes, the weekly maximum benefit has fallen from $604 to $435. On average, a worker only gets $335 per week. That’s crumbs, in a city like Vancouver. It also states that in 2006-07, just four in 10 unemployed workers qualified for EI.

The document lays out several “solutions”, including:

”¢ “Raise benefits immediately to 60% of earnings calculated on a worker’s best 12 weeks.”
”¢ “Support incomes by raising minimum wages and tax credits for low-income workers.”
”¢ “Invest part of the EI surplus on better training and labour adjustment programs.”

The CLC isn’t the only group crying out for changes to the EI program. In fact, in January 2006, Quebec started administrating its own maternity leave program, as citizens were so dissatisfied with the federal system. It’s called the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan, and unlike the federal system, self-employed citizens qualify for it. Plus, you can get up to 75 percent of your income up to $60,500—or up to $872 per week. That’s compared to 55 percent in the rest of Canada, to a maximum of $435 per week.

During the 40th Parliament—our current Conservative minority—the government has introduced zero bills to reform the EI system. However, the system has been under fire from groups representing women, self-employed Canadians, and others, who claim it follows a model that’s out of touch with the 21st century employment reality.

Since October 14, when Stephen Harper was returned to office, opposition MPs have introduced seven separate bills to reform EI. None has made it past first reading.

The NDP MP for Sackville-Eastern Shore, Peter Stoffer, introduced Bill C-217, to improve compassionate care benefits.

The NDP MP for Acadie-Bathurst, Yves Godin, introduced bills to increase the length of the benefit period.

And Christian Ouellet, Bloc Québécois MP for Brome-Missisquoi, and Claude Gravelle, NDP MP for Nickel Belt, both introduced bills to cancel the two-week waiting period before a worker can collect benefits.

So how likely is it that Harper will grab on to this very obvious way to secure votes in the next election—especially votes from “families”, his favourite constituents?

From what we’ve seen so far, nil. But in desperate times, anything can happen. Tune in on January 27.