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In 1997, the Government of Canada changed the name of the program from Unemployment Insurance to Employment Insurance. We use the two terms interchangeably, although we prefer the old name as, in our view, it better reflects the program’s purpose of providing income support during periods of unemployment.
Statistics Canada releases the results of its 'Labour Force Survey' on the first Friday of every month. This survey provides monthly statistics of employment and unemployment in Canada, including the current unemployment rate. Click here to access the latest release.
Each year the Canada Employment and Insurance Commission is required under the EI Act to monitor and assess the impact of the legislation and program delivery. Once completed, the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development tables the Monitoring and Assessment report in Parliament. To view copies of these reports click here.
EDUCATION
Through the efforts of the Community Unemployed Help Centre, the University of Winnipeg will be offering two - 3 hour credit courses in the 2011/2012 school year. Introduction to Advocacy will be offered this fall and Poverty and Policy in the winter.
These courses will be available through the University of Winnipeg's Urban and Inner City Studies program.
Community Unemployed Help Centre
Executive Director Neil Cohen accepts
the Success Skills Centre Immigrant Advocate Award
on behalf of CUHC. Manitoba Lieutenant Governor
Philip Lee presented the award at Government
House on the occasion of Success Skills twenty-fifth
anniversary.
ENDOWMENT FUND
Community Unemployed Help centre has established a permanent endowment fund with the Winnipeg Foundation in order to secure the Centre's long-term future.
Donations to the endowment fund are matched in part by the Winnipeg Foundation and invested in perpetuity. The Centre then receives annual income from the fund in order to support its services and activities. CUHC is a registered charity and receipts for Income Tax purposes will be issued for all donations. If you wish to donate to the Endowment Fund, click here now CUHC Endowment Fund For information on the Winnipeg foundation's lastest giving challenge click below.
DONATIONS
If you would rather donate directly to Community Unemployed Help Centre click here.
If you would like to donate through CanadaHelps.ca click here.
If you would like to Donate through "Run For Rights" Charity Run in Winnipeg this June 4, 2011 by sponsoring a runner/walker or by participating, click here to keep apprised of developments.
All donations are tax receiptable.
CHARTER CHALLENGE
On March 22, 2011 an Umpire in Winnipeg heard the case of Sabrina Prokopiuk, the young woman with Down's syndrome who failed to qualify for Employment Insurance when she was laid off from her job at the Gap. CUHC awaits the decision of the Umpire, which could take several months.
Ms. Prokopiuk contacted CUHC when informed by EI that she had insufficient hours to qualify for benefits.CUHC has alleged that current entrance requirements are too high for persons with disabilities; that the legislation is discriminatory and offends the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Ms. Prokopiuk is currently represented by the Public Interest Law Centre of Legal Aid Manitoba.
A decision by an Umpire has now been rendered in the Prokopiuk case and will be available shortly. For News on the case, follow this link.
CENTRE WINS BENEFITS FOR FORMER TEMBEC WORKERS
Community Unemployed Help Centre wins Employment Insurance benefits for
Former Tembec workers in Pine Falls.
When Tembec workers were locked out by their employer last September, they applied for EI and were advised they would not be eligible for benefits during a labour dispute. The two unions representing the workers, USWA and COPE contacted Community Unemployed Help Centre for assistance. CUHC agreed to represent the workers to help them obtain their benefits. CUHC cited a Manitoba Labour decision and argued that the employer had no intention of settling with the workers, but had clearly intended to sell the plant. CUHC argued that when the employer had attempted to extract concessions from the unions in excess of 30%, it was attempting to make the plant more attractive for a potential buyer. When the unions refused the employer’s offer, they were locked out.
The federal government has always maintained that denying EI benefits to workers during a labour dispute allows them to remain neutral on such matters and not influence the outcome of the dispute. CUHC argued the employer had no intention of resolving the labour dispute and the workers should be entitled to EI benefits.
Community Unemployed Help Centre represented the workers before two separate EI Boards of Referees. One board allowed the appeals and the other did not. CUHC then appealed those it lost, and the federal government appealed those CUHC had won. Recently, Community Unemployed Help Centre was advised that the government would be withdrawing its appeals and conceding to CUHC on those cases the Centre had won. This is an important victory for the Tembec workers.
EI Financing Agency Spends Millions Doing Nothing!! - CBC News - January 19
$450M Class Action Lawsuit File Against Ottawa - The Star - January 19
Interview With Neil Cohen at CKUW Radio Regarding Employment Insurance
Inside Canada's Battered EI System - CBC - January 14
EI Claim Wait Pushed Man Over Edge - Journal Pioneer - January 5
Waiting Game: Falls Man Among Many Waiting for EI - Niagara Falls Review - January 5
Tax The Poor: Governments Are Ganging Up - Vancouver Sun - January 4
Some Waiting for EI Looking to Social Assistance - CBC News - January 4
Foster Parents Seeking to Adopt, Get Break - TheRecord - January 4
Claim Filing Log Jam Ham MP Furious With Feds - Winnipeg Free Press - December 31
Welfare Fills Gap as Jobless Wait for EI - Winnipeg Free Press with Neil Cohen from CUHC - December 30
EI Queue Has Ballooned Since Service Canada Staff Cuts - Globe and Mail - December 28
EI Wait Months for Tens of Thousands - CBC - December 23
New Commissioner to the EI Program Appointed - Canada News Centre - December 22
EI Worker Shortage Means Slow Processing - CBC - December 21
EI Coverage Falls Below 40% - CPPA - December 16
Festering EI Backlog Prompts Pre-Christmas Violence - Globe and Mail - December 16
Penashue Accused of Meddling in EI Service Cuts - CBC News - December 14
Minister Accuses EI Union of Working to Rule - Globe and Mail - November 29
EI Eligibility Musing Draw Fire from NDP - Telegraph Journal - November 28
The Mowat Centre and Employment Insurance Report - Progressive Economics Forum - November 16
Overworked EI Call Centre Staff at Odds With Boss' Claim - Globe and Mail - November 16
Is Our EI System Broken? Only 46% Received Unemployment Benefits Last Year - The Star - November 15
Tory Minister Banks on Automation to Ease EI Backlog - Globe and Mail - November 15
Employment Insurance Premium Rate Report - Digital Journal - November 14
Service Canada Employees Told To Keep Mum On Existance Of Complaints Office - Globe and Mail - Nov. 8
End Unemployment Caused by EI Rules - Winnipeg Free Press - November 8
Canada Unprepared for Slowdown, Must Fix EI - Market Wire - November 4
How to Make EI Fairer for All Canadians C. D. Howe Institute - Digital Journal - November 2
Service Canada, EI Call Centre Employees Protest Looming Job Loss - The Spec - October 18
Calgary Mom With Cancer Denied Sickness Benefits Despite EI Ruling - The Star - October 11
EI Call Centres in NS, PEI to be Downsized - CBC News - August 22
Fewer Canadians Eligible For EI - Globe and Mail - June 27
EI Umpire Rejects Decision to Allow Parents of Twins Separate EI Leave - Ottawa Citizen - June 16
Employer's Council Wants Better Control of EI - The Telegram - June 10
Government Must Focus on Jobs for Young Workers - CLC - June 10
No Employment Insurance for Temps in Canada - ABS-CBN North America News Bureau - April 27
Too Many Unemployed Being Denied Benefits - CLC - April 13
The Small Change EI Premium Rebate - CCPA - March 29
New Budget - Do More to Help the Unemployed - CLC - March 23
Canadians Need Better Jobs and More of Them - CLC - March 11
Poor Job Prospects Push Many Older Workers to Retire Too Soon - Vancouver Sun - February 25
Next Federal Budget Must Put JOBS First - CLC - February 4
Update on Ottawa Couple with Twins Wanted Double Parental EI - Globe and Mail - January 28
Pressure Rises to Tackle EI Inequality - Globe and Mail - January 20
Yesterday's EI is Failing Today's Canada - The Montreal Gazette - January 17
Government Opts for Secrecy as it Lays Off Workers - Winnipeg Sun - January 10, 2011
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