March 24, 2009

Ottawa - Today, Minister Finley announced over $60M in additional funding to speed up the processing of EI claims.  The funding will help to hire hundreds of new staff and improve efficiencies in processing claims through increased automation. This announcement builds on the Conservative Government’s recent decision to recall retired processing agents and increase the hours of operation of our EI calls centres. 

Other recent changes to the Employment Insurance system include:

• Extending EI benefits by 5 additional weeks to a maximum of 50 weeks.
• Freezing EI premiums in 2009 and 2010 – their lowest level since 1982. 
• Extending work-sharing agreements by 14 weeks to a maximum of 52 weeks. 

“The Conservative government is taking action during this difficult economic period to help unemployed Canadians access Employment Insurance benefits as quickly as possible,” said local MP Guy Lauzon. “Canadians can rest assured we’re doing everything we can to process the increasing number of E.I. claims in as efficient and timely a manner as possible.”