Liberals Refuse to Fix Broken Employment Insurance System

Liberal MPs voted against an NDP motion urging the government to keep its election promises and fix the broken Employment Insurance system in Ottawa this evening.

“Canadians are facing an EI crisis—they must contribute to this program but they don’t have access to it when they need it the most,” said the NDP’s Employment Insurance Critic Niki Ashton (Churchill–Keewatinook Aski). “By voting against our motion to fix the system, the Liberals are telling Canadians that their priorities don’t matter.”

The NDP motion called on the government to establish a universal qualifying threshold of 360 hours for Employment Insurance, repeal the Conservatives’ harmful reforms, and protect the Employment Insurance account so that funds can never again be raided by Liberal or Conservative governments.

“This vote shows the government’s true intentions. The Liberals are leaving the door wide open to using the Employment Insurance account to offset future deficits,” added Karine Trudel (Jonquière), who introduced the motion. “It’s disappointing to see that the Liberals are refusing to protect the EI Account. The premiums that Canadians pay should never again be used to fatten the government’s coffers.”