OTTAWA – The Conservative government is under pressure to detail the specific changes it will make to employment insurance after a week of rampant speculation fuelled concerns that workers could be forced into jobs they don’t want.
Dan Kelly of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business said anything the government can do to get people off EI and into unfilled jobs is a positive move, but it’s time the Tories put an end to the hysteria.
“It would be better practice for the government to unveil the changes and then we can debate them on their merits,” Kelly said.
Changes proposed in the budget implementation bill and subsequent comments from Conservative cabinet ministers have raised the spectre of unemployed Canadians being forced into unskilled jobs that are far away and lower paying.
Currently, EI recipients can turn down a job if it is outside of their skill level, pays too little or has poor working conditions. But Bill C-38 will allow Human Resources Minister Diane Finley to redefine “suitable” employment – a definition she can make without parliamentary scrutiny after the bill passes.
Her department has also surveyed focus groups about ways to entice EI recipients to move to other regions with more jobs – a measure that goes beyond current requirements.
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Finance Minister Jim Flaherty added fuel to the fire on Monday, saying details of the policy were forthcoming, but “the only bad job is not having a job.”
“We can probably safely assume that the government is not going to force engineers to pick turnips, but we don’t know. The government hasn’t been very clear as to what will happen by regulation after this bill passes,” said Erin Weir, an economist with the United Steelworkers Union, speaking at a budget hearing hosted by the New Democrats.
The calls for clarity were echoed in Question Period on Thursday, with Opposition parties demanding details of the changes before being asked to vote on the budget bill.
“The changes are not in the legislation. What is in there is the elimination of important protections that have been in the legislation that currently exists,” said Liberal Leader Bob Rae.
NDP MP Libby Davies said Canadians deserve to know the truth about the changes and demanded that Finley table them in the House of Commons.
In response to the ongoing speculation, Finley’s office said the changes will connect Canadians with jobs in their own area and will take qualifications into account.
“Canadians will be expected to find jobs in their local communities that match their qualifications,” said Finley’s parliamentary secretary, Kellie Leitch.
The government still refused to provide any details about the new rules, justifying them by pointing to “unprecedented” regionally and sector-specific labour shortages.
Kelly said labour shortages are plaguing many independent Canadian business and solutions are needed.
But on the EI issue, it’s been long enough, he said: “It’s time to reality test (these changes).”
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