The National Council of Unemployed Workers (NCUW) would like to remind the government of its commitment to introduce Employment Insurance (EI) reform and extend sickness benefits from 15 to 26 weeks.
“The government committed to bringing forward an EI reform plan early this winter. I don’t know for you, but I feel that winter has arrived,” said Pierre Céré, spokesperson for the NCUW. “Yet there was nothing in the Fall Economic Statement, and still nothing now. The government must act, especially as a recession approaches”.
The National Council of Unemployed Workers is calling on the government to move forward with reform to expand coverage and improve protections. The outdated and unfair rules of Employment Insurance cannot stay in place.
“Canadians voted in 2021 by a majority of over 60% for parties with a platform that supports progressive EI reform. This is a strong mandate that demands immediate results. There is no need to try to please the Conservatives, led by a leader who wants to dismantle the social safety net,” continued the spokesperson. “If there is a rise of the right-wing discourse aimed at the destructuring of state policies, we must not try to spare it, but respond with even more vigour.”