Tories to Introduce Further EI Reforms
Conservative Party to Propose Parental Benefits for Self-Employed
Oct 2, 2009
The proposed bill will assist truck drivers, hairdressers, real-estate agents, and other small business owners, who comprise of the growing 2.7 million Canadians who are self-employed. The content of the legislation has yet to be announced, but it is to be introduced before Parliament's Christmas break.
This expansion of Employment Insurance benefits gives the NDP yet another reason to support the Harper government. The party has been a long-time advocate of parental benefits, particularly for benefits that allow self-employed parents to take time off to care for their newborn children. The NDP argues that the self-employed are unable to afford to take time off because of their business obligations.
Harper: Wary of the Balance of Power
Stephen Harper maintains that the bill’s appeal to the NDP is only a secondary consideration. However, according to the Globe and Mail, government officials have suggested that the prime minister would like to keep governing, and is consciously avoiding disrupting any balance of power.
“We won't be doing anything that is blatantly aimed at forcing the opposition parties to vote against us,” said a senior government official.
NDP Support Tied to EI Reform
NDP support on EI initiatives is crucial for the Conservative party, as the NDP. Yesterday, the government survived a confidence vote 144-177 due to abstentions from the entire NDP caucus. The Liberal party and Bloc Québecois voted against the government.
The NDP reiterated after the confidence vote that their abstentions were on behalf of unemployed Canadians and not a move in support of the government. Jack Layton has stated that the NDP will evaluate their support of the government on a case-by-case basis.
Recent History of EI Reform
The first package of EI benefits put forward by the Conservative government included removing the two-week wait period for benefits, measures to raise the wage replacement rate (the rate at which wages lost due to illness or injury are replaced by compensation or benefits), and greater opportunities for worker training. Since introduction, the bill has traveled quickly through the House and is expected to become law in a matter of weeks.
In June, the Prime Minister attempted to build a working relationship with the Liberals over EI reform. He suggested that he would be amenable to considerable design changes and extension of benefits to the self-employed. Since the relationship with the Liberals has fallen apart, the NDP have stepped in, acting as a support to the government.
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