They may be on opposite sides of the political spectrum but both the head of the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour (SFL) and Saskatchewan’s premier agree on one thing – expand the employment insurance program.
In last week’s federal budget, provisions were included to help workers in regions where the unemployment rate increased by two percentage points or more for a sustained period over the last 12 months when compared with the lowest point between 2014 and early 2015.
Only Saskatoon and northern Saskatchewan qualify under the new provisions.
READ MORE: Wall, Trudeau continue to spar over EI program changes
Both Larry Hubich and Brad Wall say Prime Minister Justin Trudeau needs to make changes to include other parts of the province.
“Energy sector workers in the southern Saskatchewan EI region are just as hard hit by the reversals in the sector as workers elsewhere in Canada and should be granted the same consideration,” said SFL president Larry Hubich.
“The numbers of workers and families affected by the economic downturn in the Estevan, Weyburn, Regina, and Swift Current areas are significant and their welfare should be taken into account.”
On Wednesday, Wall renewed his attack on changes made to the program by Justin Trudeau’s government.
“If the federal government has a program to help provide a bit of support for energy workers, why in the world would they exclude southwestern Saskatchewan, southeastern Saskatchewan, and why then would anyone say that you should be happy about that?,” said Wall
“They’re not happy about that.”
Trudeau reiterated that the federal government is not arbitrarily picking winners and losers.
“We’re applying the cold, hard mathematics,” Trudeau told reporters after meeting with families Wednesday at a southside Edmonton library.
“We’re continuing to base our decisions on evidence and facts and making sure that we’re helping out the people who need the help the most.”
READ MORE: 5 things to know about changes to employment insurance program
The budget adds five weeks to the regular 45 weeks of EI benefits, effective in July and retroactive to January 2015.
Long-tenured workers will also be eligible for an extra 20 weeks of benefits, to a maximum of 70 weeks.
With files from The Canadian Press
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