The Guardian: Our economy needs seasonal workers

Our economy needs seasonal workers

If seasonal workers are an essential part of our economy, then it stands to reason the EI program must reflect that reality.

By
The Guardian

It was iffy for a while, but the Harper government came through recently with an extension to an employment insurance pilot project that delivers additional benefits to seasonal workers. It was the right thing to do. Seasonal industries depend on a seasonal workforce, and adequate EI benefits are essential to maintaining that workforce.

The previous Liberal government had brought in a pilot project that provides five weeks additional EI benefits in high unemployment regions in the country. With that project nearing its expiration date at the end of May, rumours were circulating that the new Harper government wouldn’t renew it. The feds were non-committal and as recently as two weeks ago, provincial politicians were urging the Binns government to lobby Ottawa to renew the project. So was Liberal MP Wayne Easter who emphasized the importance of such programs to places like P.E.I. where seasonal workers would be left for weeks without pay if the program wasn’t extended.

The Guardian: Our economy needs seasonal workers