Edmonton Is The Only Alberta Jurisdiction To Miss Out On New EI Benefits
It's the only place in Alberta left out.
Sarah Rieger— The Huffington Post Alberta
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Tuesday's federal budget introduced changes to employment insurance (EI) that will help all Albertans — except people from Edmonton.
The changes make it easier for unemployed workers to claim EI, and extend the period during which they can receive benefits.
They apply everywhere — except the provincial capital, where residents will have to obtain EI just like they did before, Global News reported.
Edmonton Mayor frustrated by exclusion
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the changes target people who need EI most, but the exclusion still has Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson concerned.
“I can surmise that it has something to do with the fact that our employment numbers are a little bit better than the rest of the province,” The Edmonton Journal reported him saying.
“I will want to get confirmation that if our numbers shift, if the economy deteriorates, that we will become eligible.”
Edmonton unemployment rate below provincial average
Edmonton MP Amarjeet Sohi said the city has been left out because it simply hasn't been hit as hard by the slump in oil prices as the rest of the province — but things could change if the capital’s economy worsens, 630 CHED radio reported.
“We will continue to monitor this,” Sohi said. “If the situation changes, if Edmonton sees the layoffs to the extent that other regions have, we will revisit this plan.”
Notley 'disappointed' by federal government's decision
Alberta Premier Rachel Notley told CBC News that she’s disappointed at Edmonton’s exclusion and said she plans to look at what it takes to qualify for EI with the changes in place.
“We will keep a sharp eye on the state of job losses in Edmonton and we will continue to push very aggressively for changes if the situation worsens,” she said.
Parts of Saskatchewan also omitted
The EI changes affect 12 regions across Canada where unemployment rate increased by two per cent or more over the past year.
The benefits will also omit parts of Saskatchewan that have been hit hard by the downturn in oil.
"That’s a first concern that we’ll want to raise, that they’ve missed a big part of Saskatchewan’s oilpatch in this particular initiative,” Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall said.
The Liberal government delivered its maiden budget Tuesday, March 22. A deficit of $29.4 billion in 2016-17, nearly three times the $10 billion promised during the fall election campaign, and a projected deficit of $17.7 billion in 2019-20 rather than the balanced budget that was promised in October.(Source: The Canadian Press) (credit:CP)
$8.4 Billion For Aboriginal Programming(02 of16)
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One of the earmarks of the budget is a commitment to spending on aboriginal issues. This includes:- $2.6 billion over five years for primary and secondary education on First Nations reserves, including language and cultural programs, plus $969.4 million over five years for education infrastructure.- $1.2 billion over five years for social infrastructure for Aboriginal Peoples, including First Nations, Inuit and northern communities.- $10.4 million over three years for new women's shelters in First Nations communities, and $33.6 million over five years and $8.3 million ongoing for support services.- $40 million over two years for the inquiry into missing and murdered aboriginal women and girls.Read more here(Source: The Canadian Press) (credit:CP)
Changes To Child Benefits(03 of16)
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The Liberals will be changing the structure of Canada's child benefits, ending income splitting and other tax credits for families and parents.This means: - $10 billion more over two years for a new Canada child benefit, absorbing and replacing both the Canada child tax benefit and the universal child care benefit. Targeted to low and middle-income families, the government says the new benefit provides an average increase of nearly $2,300 in 2016-17.- An end to income splitting for couples with children, the children's fitness tax credit and the children's arts tax credit.Read more here(Source: The Canadian Press) (credit:Gettystock)
Changes To Employment Insurance(04 of16)
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The government will spend $2.5 billion over two years on a suite of changes, including reducing the required work experience for new entrants and re-entrants; halving the two-week waiting period; extending a pilot project to allow claimants to work while collecting benefits; simplifying job-search requirements; and extending the benefit eligibility window in specific regions with a higher unemployment rate.(Source: The Canadian Press) (credit:Getty Images)
Veterans Rewarded, Military Purchases Delayed(05 of16)
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- $5.6 billion more in benefits to veterans and their families over five years, including a disability award that increases to $360,000, retroactive to 2006, and an earnings loss benefit to injured vets of 90 per cent of pre-release salary. The government is also re-opening nine veterans' service offices across the country and adding a 10th.- Planned National Defence purchases worth $3.7 billion — ships, planes and vehicles — are being deferred indefinitely.Read more here(Source: The Canadian Press) (credit:CP)
...But Military Purchases Delayed(06 of16)
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Planned National Defence purchases worth $3.7 billion — ships, planes and vehicles — are being deferred indefinitely.Read more here(Source: The Canadian Press) (credit:CP)
More Benefits For Seniors(07 of16)
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The budget includes $3.4 billion over five years to increase the guaranteed income supplement top-up benefit by up to $947 annually for single seniors, and restore the old age security eligibility age to 65 from 67.Read more here(Source: The Canadian Press) (credit:Gettystock)
Small Business Tax Rate Unchanged(08 of16)
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The Liberals broke a major campaign promise to cut the small business tax rate. Instead, the rate will remain at the current 10.5 per cent on the first $500,000 of active business income.Read more here(Source: The Canadian Press) (credit:Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Grants For Students To Increase(09 of16)
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The Liberals will spend $1.53 billion over five years to increase Canada student grants to $3,000 from $2,000 for low-income students, to $1,200 from $800 for middle-income students and to $1,800 from $1,200 for part-time students.$2 billion over three years is also earmarked for a new strategic investment fund for infrastructure improvements at colleges and universities, in partnership with provinces and territories. (credit:Gettystock)
(10 of16)
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10-Year Green Infrastructure Plan(11 of16)
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The Liberals' green infrastructure plan includes:- $2.2 billion over five years in water and wastewater treatment and waste management- $2 billion over two years for a low-carbon economy fund- Over $1 billion over four years to support future clean technology investments- $345.3 million over five years to Environment and Climate Change Canada, Health Canada and the National Research Council to take action to address air pollution.(Source: The Canadian Press) (credit:Gettystock)
Researching Foreign Homebuyers(12 of16)
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The Liberals will spend $500,000 to help understand the role of foreign homebuyers in the country's housing market.The government says comprehensive and reliable data on the number of homes sold to foreign buyers does not exist right now.Read more here.(Source: The Canadian Press) (credit:Gettystock)
Syrian Refugee Program Cost(13 of16)
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The marquee Liberal commitment to Syrian refugee resettlement could end up costing taxpayers close to $1 billion.The budget provided an additional $245 million over five years to bring in the remaining 10,000 people needed to meet the Liberal promise to resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees by the end of 2016.Read more here(Source: The Canadian Press) (credit:Toronto Star via Getty Images)
More National Parks(14 of16)
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$142.3 million over five years will be spent to add new national parks and improve access during the 150th anniversary of Confederation.(Source: The Canadian Press (credit:Getty Images)
Money For Affordable Housing Needs(15 of16)
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The Grits will provide up to $178 million over two years for the provinces for urgent affordable housing needs.Read more here(Source: The Canadian Press) (credit:CP)
Canada's Food Safety System(16 of16)
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The budget earmarks $38.5 million over two years to strengthen and modernize Canada's food safety system.(Source: The Canadian Press) (credit:Gettystock)
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