Question Period Note: Employment Insurance (EI) for Atlantic Canadians affected by Post-Tropical Storm Fiona

Post-tropical storm Fiona has affected the employment of some Atlantic Canadian workers, requiring access to Employment Insurance benefits.

• The Government is actively working to facilitate access to services and benefits for workers affected by post-tropical storm Fiona.
• Affected workers are encouraged to apply for EI benefits as soon as they become unemployed.
• Service Canada is gathering information to prepare for outreach to individuals, employers and affected communities.
• A rapid response model has been developed to facilitate the processing of EI claims.
• The Government continues to monitor the situation and will take action to ensure workers have access to the supports they need.

On Saturday, September 24, 2022, post-tropical storm Fiona made landfall in Atlantic Canada. Two deaths have been reported as powerful winds and heavy rain caused extensive damage to the region including power outages, flooding, and washed out roads and homes.
As per standard EI rules, affected workers are encouraged to apply for EI benefits as soon as they stop working to ensure that they do not lose benefits, even before their employer issues a Record of Employment.
Service Canada has developed expertise over the years to respond to natural disasters. A rapid response model has been developed for these situations to facilitate the processing of EI claims.
While a Record of Employment (ROE) is required to process an EI claim, Service Canada has a process to establish EI claims without an ROE submitted by the employer. This process will be applied to those workers affected by the storm who apply for EI.

As of September 25, 2022, the EI program reverted to the following standard pre-pandemic rules on qualifying for benefits:
• Regular benefits: Between 420 and 700 hours of insurable employment in the qualifying period, depending on the regional unemployment rate.
• Special benefits: 600 hours of insurable employment in the qualifying period.
• Fishing benefits: $2,500 to $4,200 in earnings from self-employment in fishing based on the regional unemployment rate.
• Self-employed special benefits: $8,092 in self-employment earnings in the 2021 taxation year.

The program also reverted to the standard pre-pandemic treatment of reasons for separation and monies on separation:

• all contentious reasons for leaving a job in the qualifying period (generally 52 weeks prior to the claim start date) will be reviewed when determining eligibility for benefits and calculating the benefit rate.
• severance, vacation pay, and other monies paid on separation will be allocated as earnings against EI benefits provided the allocation start date occurs after September 24, 2022. This will prevent claimants from receiving EI benefits at the same time as separation monies are fully allocated.

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