13°c Overcast
12°c Rain
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Quiet change to maligned reforms to EI payments
OTTAWA -- The Harper government has quietly relented in the face of bruising criticism that changes it recently made to Employment Insurance were punishing those who could least afford it.
Just before MPs headed off for the Thanksgiving long weekend, Human Resources Minister Diane Finley issued a release detailing adjustments to the Employment Insurance Working While on Claim pilot project.
Finley said the government was acting on concerns that have been raised about the pilot project.
The concern has been that part-time workers at the bottom of the pay scale who also collect EI make less money under the pilot project because more of their EI benefits are clawed back.
Finley announced Friday EI recipients who were working between Aug. 7 of last year and Aug. 4 of this year can revert to the terms of the previous pilot project.
The change is effective Jan. 6, 2013, but will be retroactive to Aug. 5, 2012. And beginning Jan. 6, 2013, eligible claimants must make the request to revert to the old pilot terms within 30 days of their last EI benefit payment.
Under the old system, EI claimants who worked part time could earn up to 40 per cent of their weekly EI benefits or $75, whichever was larger, without affecting their benefits. If their weekly earnings surpassed the 40 per cent cap, the government clawed back each dollar of the extra earnings from the claimant's EI benefits.
Under the new rules the clawback is only 50 cents on the dollar, but there is no cap. The clawback begins at the first dollar earned, meaning claimants at the lowest end of the wage scale can end up with less money.
-- The Canadian Press
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition October 7, 2012 A6
More Canada
- Back to Top
- Return to Canada
More Canada
(1 of 8 articles for today)
Search resumes for missing fishermen off New Brunswick northeast coast
11:17 AM 0TABUSINTAC, NEW BRUNSWICK, - A recovery effort has resumed for two fishermen missing off New Brunswick's northeast coast.
RCMP Const. Scott ...
Poll
Most Popular Canada
- Toronto Mayor Rob Ford nixes weekend radio show in wake of video controversy
- Father and two children fighting for lives after Montreal area house fire
- Wright off: PM's deep-pocketed chief of staff quits amid Duffy fallout
- B.C. NDP's 24-hour bus ride goes beyond Hope and crashes on election night
- Fisherman found dead off New Brunswick, two others still lost at sea
- Harper's body to lie in state
- Survey says: Can't trust those polls
- Spectator killed during Jeep demonstration at Edmonton Food Bank fundraiser
- Sen. Pamela Wallin, target of expense audit, latest to leave Conservative caucus
- Calgary man charged with murder of woman and her five-year-old son
- First-degree murder charge to be laid in test drive death; remains badly burned
- Crack-cocaine video allegations 'ridiculous,' Toronto Mayor Rob Ford says
- Duffy bailout by Harper's chief of staff prompts allegations of coverup by PMO
- Duffy quits Conservative caucus over expenses as colleagues began turning on him
- Liberals blaze to stunning B.C. victory, but Clark loses own seat
- Quake near Ottawa rattles residents across wide swath of Ontario, Quebec
- Sen. Pamela Wallin, target of expense audit, latest to leave Conservative caucus
- Conservative senator Duffy claimed expenses while campaigning in 2011 election
- Duffy's public salary, benefits don't paint picture of man down on his luck
- Wife of man killed after test drive says she is broken as part of her is gone
- First-degree murder charge to be laid in test drive death; remains badly burned
- Multiple fatalities after serious crash near U.S. border
- Canadian tourist dies after falling from hotel in Mexican resort
- Crack-cocaine video allegations 'ridiculous,' Toronto Mayor Rob Ford says
- Engineer charged in mall collapse
- Arrest made in case of Hamilton, Ont., man missing after pickup truck test drive
- Leaving Saskatoon: police mourn homeless drunk they considered a friend
- Man with no arms plans to fight seatbelt ticket, wants apology from police
- Suspects arrested in Via train terror plot linked to al-Qaida in Iran: RCMP
- Duffy bailout by Harper's chief of staff prompts allegations of coverup by PMO
- Fisherman found dead off New Brunswick, two others still lost at sea
- Harper government buying ads to promote job grant program that doesn't yet exist
- U.S. bill would give Canadian snowbirds more time to spend in the sun
- Duffy bailout by Harper's chief of staff prompts allegations of coverup by PMO
- First-degree murder charge to be laid in test drive death; remains badly burned
- Search on for living creatures far beneath Canadian Shield
- Quake near Ottawa rattles residents across wide swath of Ontario, Quebec
- Effort afoot in court to sue Canadians for illegal downloads
- 'Not looking for blame,' grieving father says of fatal rugby tackle
- Federal Court to test expedited hearings for some visa-rejection reviews
- Conservative senator Duffy claimed expenses while campaigning in 2011 election
- Grade 5 kids urge Harper to drop mean attack ads against Justin Trudeau
- U.S. bill would give Canadian snowbirds more time to spend in the sun
- Foul fascination: Edmonton plant beautiful, but stinks like diapers, dead animals
- 'Revenge of the redheads': Ginger-haired Montrealers gather in celebration
- Man with no arms plans to fight seatbelt ticket, wants apology from police
- Suspects arrested in Via train terror plot linked to al-Qaida in Iran: RCMP
- Leaving Saskatoon: police mourn homeless drunk they considered a friend
- Commanding officer of Canadian Forces base in Alberta charged with sex assault
- Duffy bailout by Harper's chief of staff prompts allegations of coverup by PMO
- Engineer charged in mall collapse
- What's snot OK with eating your own boogers?
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.