Issue: Employment Insurance

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We have much to thank Stephen Harper for, but being a good economic planner is not one. Employment Insurance changes made by the Harper government were designed to force people to take lower
paying jobs or move; this Conservative action plan is to the detriment of many local part-time and seasonal workers.

We have much to thank Stephen Harper for, but being a good economic planner is not one. Employment Insurance changes made by the Harper government were designed to force people to take lower
paying jobs or move; this Conservative action plan is to the detriment of many local part-time and seasonal workers.
Rather than developing good paying jobs here, Harper was content to create workers for the oil patch. Tragically, many Quebecers who were forced to move to the Alberta oil patch are finding that with the current low price for oil, they are getting laid off there too. At the same time, they are finding out their EI plan is really not
something they can count on for economic stability; workers have to accept jobs for up to 30% less in earnings and travel up to100 km away or they risk having their claims
rejected.
It’s not a big election issue so far, but these changes have made life much more difficult in certain industries. In our Pontiac riding, businesses in farming, forestry,
and eco-tourism hire seasonal workers.
Labour shortages leave key businesses in a
vulnerable position.
Our small towns and villages can
scarcely afford to lose our people because of EI changes.

Denise Giroux
CANTLEY, QC