A new federal pilot project will provide up to five additional weeks of regular Employment Insurance (EI) benefits to eligible seasonal workers in four targeted regions of Québec, including la Vallée-de-la-Gatineau and the MRC Pontiac who start a claim between August 5, 2018 and May 30, 2020.
A new federal pilot project will provide up to five additional weeks of regular Employment Insurance (EI) benefits to eligible seasonal workers in four targeted regions of Québec, including la Vallée-de-la-Gatineau and the MRC Pontiac who start a claim between August 5, 2018 and May 30, 2020.
Eigible seasonal worker meet two criteria: in the previous five years, they have submitted at least three applications for which they received regular or fishing benefits, and at least two of these requests began at about the same time of the year.
The government estimated that 24,500 seasonal workers in Québec would receive additional benefits through the project, which was implemented in response to concerns raised by many of the Pontiac’s elected officials.
“Gaps in EI prevent workers in certain regions from receiving adequate support. We are committed to reviewing and modernizing the employment insurance system to reduce the number of unemployed workers who do not have a safety net. This new pilot project will ensure the Pontiac’s seasonal workers have access to the extra support they need between seasons,” said Pontiac Member of Parliament William Amos.
The Government will also invest $41 million over two years to develop, in conjunction with the provinces and territories, vocational training and employment assistance programs for seasonal workers under provincial labour market development agreements. The increased support is part of a commitment made in the 2018 budget to provide $230 million over two years (2018-19 and 2019-20) to assist seasonal workers. (TR. AB)
