OTTAWA – Self-employed workers in Canada can now register voluntarily for the Employment Insurance plan in order to qualify for parental, maternity, sickness and compassionate care benefits. Yvon Godin (Acadie-Bathurst) encourages the self-employed to register quickly, in order to be able to use this improved system if the need arises.

Notes Mr Godin: “The New Democratic Party has been asking the government for years to include the self-employed in the Employment Insurance scheme. There is still room for improvement in the system, but this is a step in the right direction.”

Those who elect to apply for special benefits will have to register at least a year before they make a claim. However, as a transitional measure in the first year, self-employed workers who register by April 1, 2010 will be able to claim benefits from January 1, 2011. April 1, 2010 is therefore a very important date. Those who register only after that date will have to wait a full 12 months before being able to claim special benefits, which is three months longer than if they register before that date. To qualify, they must also have reported earnings from self-employment of at least $6,000 over the last 12 months.

“The NDP is happy to note that these changes in the EI system were finally adopted in December 2009. They will provide crucial assistance to Canadian families. Rest assured that we shall continue to work to obtain other gains like these, which will bring us an improved EI system for all Canadians,” Mr Godin concluded.

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