OTTAWA - On June 17, the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition agreed to form a working group to develop proposals for Employment Insurance eligibility reform that will:

1.allow self-employed Canadians to participate voluntarily in the Employment Insurance system; and
2.improve eligibility requirements in order to ensure regional fairness

The working group will consist of three appointees of the Prime Minister and three appointees of the Leader of the Opposition. The bi-partisan committee will have access to briefings and data provided by the Department of Human Resources and Skills Development and may consult other sources as deemed necessary. The final report will deliver recommendations to the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition and Canadians by September 28, 2009.

The Liberals have abandoned their earlier position in favour of a national 360 hour qualifying period, or 45 standard working days, for Employment Insurance and agreed to support the main and supplementary estimates this Friday, thus avoiding a summer election.

“I’m pleased that a summer election was averted,” said local MP Guy Lauzon. “Despite the Liberal rhetoric of the past few weeks, I have not met one constituent in favour on an election this summer.”