As the federal budget approaches, the National Council of Unemployed Workers (NCUW) is calling on the government to fulfill its commitment to reform Employment Insurance.
“The budget is the occasion to go ahead,” said Pierre Céré, spokesperson for the NCUW. “While recent comments by some Cabinet members may sound reassuring, we are not taking anything for granted, especially after the many postponements of the past few years. Let’s not forget that the government was originally talking about implementing the reform plan in the summer of 2022!”
The NCUW is calling for a reform that primarily expands coverage and improves protections for unemployed workers.
“We have said it many times, the time has come to put in place an EI program that is better, fairer, and more adapted to the realities of workers in the 21st century,” continued Pierre Céré. “The worst course of action would be to give up to the pressure from the business lobby and right-wing conservatives, both hostile to any form of improvement and who are constantly trying to scare everyone off. The time is now to move forward!”