Vic Toews, Member of Parliament for Provencher and President of the Treasury Board, stated that the Government of Canada’s top priority is helping Canadian workers, businesses and communities weather the current global recession.
“That is why, as part of our Economic Action Plan, we are strengthening Employment Insurance so it will be there when Canadians need it. This year, our Government will be investing $5.5 billion more in Employment Insurance benefits than we did last year,” said Toews.
“Obviously, in recent months there has been an increase in demand for the types of services and benefits offered through the EI program. We are taking action to cut red tape for employers and ensure workers get their benefits more quickly,” said Toews.
Employers who file records of employment (ROEs) electronically are no longer required to print a paper copy for their employee, thus reducing paper burden. The electronic ROEs go directly into Service Canada’s system and are immediately available to support the corresponding EI claim, thereby improving processing time and getting benefits into the hands of Canadians faster.
“Whether it is through improvements to the work sharing program, providing five extra weeks of EI benefits, offering skills training, freezing EI premiums or making the EI application process easier and better for businesses and workers – we are strengthening the system for Canadians,” said Toews.
As well, new timeframes have been implemented to permit employers to issue ROEs in accordance with their pay cycle.
The ROE is the single most important document in establishing an EI claim – it determines whether individuals qualify for EI, how much they will receive, and for how long. Every year, over one million Canadian employers issue about eight million ROEs.
