[bootlegga]

$1:

Federal Fisheries Minister Keith Ashfield says the Harper government's planned reforms to the Employment Insurance program are not intended to force people to leave their communities to find work.

Ashfield was clarifying the federal government's planned changes to the Employment Insurance program and what they will mean for New Brunswickers.

Ashfield said people will no longer be able to turn down job opportunities within an hour's drive if they expect to collect benefits.

“It's not to force people to go to Alberta, it's not to force people to, you know, drive for four hours, or move away from their home community. That's not the intent at all,” Ashfield said.

Ashfield said he believes that's a reasonable requirement that will help fill vacant positions appropriate to a worker's skill level.

The federal government has not completely laid out its plans for reforming the Employment Insurance system.

Human Resources Minister Diane Finley would not confirm on Saturday whether planned changes to Employment Insurance will target repeat users.

But Finley said the details will be announced "soon."

In an interview with Evan Solomon on CBC's The House, Finley was asked several times about a report that said upcoming changes to EI will require repeat users to accept lower-paying jobs than people using the program for the first time.

Finley did not say the report was wrong when asked about it, but she did not confirm its content.

The budget implementation bill refers to changes that are going to be made in the criteria for defining what is suitable work for EI recipients and for defining what are reasonable efforts to find work.

EI recipients must show on an ongoing basis that they are looking for work in order to qualify for the benefit.

The rumoured changes are causing uncertainty in areas that have high levels of seasonal employment.

Marie-Paul Martin, the owner of Camp Beausejour, said she depends on seasonal workers to keep the 300-unit campground running smoothly.

Martin said she is worried about possible changes to Employment Insurance that would force people to move to regions for work.

Some of her employees have been with her for eight years and she said she needs them to keep coming back.

"They know the infrastructure of my park. They know how to proceed with the schedules of everything. They know how to help the people,” she said on Friday.

“They know how to solve the problems and all of a sudden these people may be forced to move somewhere and next year well what am I going to do I won't have anyone with experience working here and that's going to be really rough.”

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/ei-changes-won ... 55518.html

[andyt]

A positive thing they could do is help people move to Alberta. Match people with jobs before they move out, and make sure suitable accommodation etc is available when they get there.

[2Cdo]

andyt andyt:

A positive thing they could do is help people move to Alberta. Match people with jobs before they move out, and make sure suitable accommodation etc is available when they get there.

Or one could do that on their own through the internet. Why do you always want the government to what people should do on their own?

[Dee2012]

andyt andyt:

A positive thing they could do is help people move to Alberta. Match people with jobs before they move out, and make sure suitable accommodation etc is available when they get there.

And you still call it a free country when your government can force you to move away from friends and family? Have you lived in Alberta? Most of the jobs they offer are also seasonal work,so are they really helping or just moving the problem like a shell game?

[CDN_PATRIOT]

Dee2012 Dee2012:

andyt andyt:

A positive thing they could do is help people move to Alberta. Match people with jobs before they move out, and make sure suitable accommodation etc is available when they get there.

And you still call it a free country when your government can force you to move away from friends and family? Have you lived in Alberta? Most of the jobs they offer are also seasonal work,so are they really helping or just moving the problem like a shell game?

How do you derive 'force people out' from 'government-assisted help'? Furthermore, do you have a point to make, or are you just pushing some conjecture?

-J.

[denmns]

so this shows again how ignorant and hateful the conservatives (reform party controlling their policies!!) are of eastern canada.
There is only seasonal work for most there. For most people, if you want a full-time job, you have to be fully bilingual (especially in NB), go to your local politician to "ask" or "beg" for a job to make enough money to collect EI, or "know somebody"!!

I love the maritimes, and visit every year to see family!!
But to find work there full time will only happen when I can retire.

"Can" being the word depending how much more I have to work past 65 to afford it!!!

[CDN_PATRIOT]

denmns denmns:

so this shows again how ignorant and hateful the conservatives (reform party controlling their policies!!) are of eastern canada.

Seeing as how you have an NDP logo next to your avatar, this would suggest that you support Mulcair's alienation of the West and his attempts to pit it against the rest of the country? I believe I detect some double-standards here.

But please, go on. Dig that hole even deeper


-J.

[meagan]

$1:

And you still call it a free country when your government can force you to move away from friends and family?

The government isn't "forcing" anyone to move. You can stay with your freinds and family if you like, as long as you like. See how long they will be willing to support you.
The Government is trying to relieve taxpayers from paying for those that want a paid holiday. No one that is capable of working should expect taxpayers to pay for them to sit on their duffs.

[Wada]

What? You don't think these people (The unemployed) are taxpayers. Everybody that draws Unemployment pays into it and if you take unemployment away then the taxpayer will have to pay as the unemployed turn to welfare.

[Brenda]

meagan meagan:

$1:

And you still call it a free country when your government can force you to move away from friends and family?

The government isn't "forcing" anyone to move. You can stay with your freinds and family if you like, as long as you like. See how long they will be willing to support you.
The Government is trying to relieve taxpayers from paying for those that want a paid holiday. No one that is capable of working should expect taxpayers to pay for them to sit on their duffs.

I think you are mixing EI with welfare.

Welfare is hardly a "paid holiday", btw.

[meagan]

$1:

Everybody that draws Unemployment pays into it and if you take unemployment away then the taxpayer will have to pay as the unemployed turn to welfare.

I realize everyone pays into it. That doesn't mean they can abuse it. I have paid into welfare for years and yet I've never used it. and only used EI for a few months. That is not to say I resent paying into it for those that really need it temporarily. I do resent those that abuse it and/or those that won't work unless it's a high paying job.
We all know of many that purposely have had seasonal jobs, (Ex: cannery jobs)for years so they can enjoy a paid holiday every year for 3 months or so at taxpayers expense. and the likes of fishermen who have made more than most of us for the year while they are fishing and then collect EI as well.

[Brenda]

$1:

I have paid into welfare for years and yet I've never used it.

You also pay into schools, yet, if you don't have children, you will never use it. Or fire department. If you never have a fire, you will never use it.

Again, EI is NOT paid for by tax payers. You pay into it when you work, and can collect when you are in between jobs, only for so long.

I have a friend who is battling cancer, and in between her chemo treatments, she kept working. She felt terrible for a few days, but would not be paid for those sick days, unless she took a week and was paid through EI. I guess we should just let her suffer, right? For as far as I know, you can take a year parental leave at 55%, paid for by EI. OHHHHHH, those bitches, they should not have babies!

This ain't rocket science, right??

[andyt]

I know somebody who just went thru chemo - he got 15 weeks EI, that's it, even tho his treatment was longer than that and the doctor had told him in the strongest terms not to go to work while under treatment. So what now, we're going to make people homeless who are sick, because they can't afford to pay their rent while undergoing treatment? Put them on welfare, to live in a rat and bug infested SRO while battling cancer. Nice.

[Brenda]

That's ridiculous.

[Wada]

Andy, did anyone tell your friend that they have/had the right to contest this decision?