Close X
Saturday, November 30, 2024
ADVT 
National

Documents show push to block unvaccinated from EI

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 21 Apr, 2022 05:16 PM
  • Documents show push to block unvaccinated from EI

OTTAWA - Internal government documents show that the Liberals' pledge to prevent unvaccinated people from accessing jobless benefits didn't eliminate all avenues for them to enter the employment insurance system.

The briefing notes prepared for Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough say that unvaccinated workers could qualify for EI sickness benefits, even if they are sick with COVID-19.

The laws guiding the social safety net program don't have any explicit rules around eligibility for EI for anyone who refused to get vaccinated.

While Qualtrough was told the government could put rules around regular jobless benefits, officials suggested the same couldn't be said of sickness benefits.

Documents prepared by Qualtrough's department last fall suggest officials advised against preventing access to sickness benefits and removing an incentive for ill workers to stay home with symptoms.

The documents show that officials argued against blocking access to the sickness benefit, saying it was "arguably even more" important for the unvaccinated to receive the support so they could isolate after a positive test and not have an incentive to go into work.

The details are contained in documents obtained by The Canadian Press under the Access to Information Act that outline some of the moves inside government as officials readied for a wave of layoffs for workers who refused to get vaccinated.

One document developed by Employment and Social Development Canada in the fall noted that workers quitting, being fired or suspended without pay if they opted against getting vaccinated could "bring into question eligibility for income supports" like EI and a suite of recovery benefits.

The government ultimately decided to prevent workers who weren't vaccinated from receiving EI, though it set some parameters for employers to follow, including having a clear vaccination policy and steps to take prior to termination.

Officials blacked out large portions of the documents because they contain policy and legal advice.

As the records note repeatedly, Service Canada has ultimately been reliant on employers accurately filling out forms to determine whether someone may have an avenue to regular EI benefits.

Qualtrough's department has yet to respond to questions posed to it earlier this week about the policy, including how many workers have been blocked from accessing EI regular benefits.

The law guiding the EI system does say that a worker can receive benefits if they lose a job through no fault of their own, but not if they decided to quit or were turfed because of misconduct.

Even in cases of misconduct, the EI law specifically says that a worker would still be entitled to the system's so-called special benefits including sickness, maternity and parental leave.

Officials noted that failure to comply with an employer's vaccination policy — and the documents suggest this would be the case for federal workers subject the government's mandate — wouldn't disentitle someone from sickness benefits.

"The EI Act does not deny access to sickness benefits in circumstances where individuals knowingly expose themselves to risk, so individuals who choose not to be vaccinated would still be able to access EI sickness benefits if they fall ill with COVID-19," reads one part of a briefing note to Qualtrough.

The briefing note went on to say that the same concept applied to the soon-to-be-defunct Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit that pays out $450 after tax to anyone who has to isolate. That benefit is set to expire on May 7.

MORE National ARTICLES

Canada, India to relaunch CEPA trade talks: Ng

Canada, India to relaunch CEPA trade talks: Ng
Following meetings in New Delhi with her Indian counterpart, Shri Piyush Goyal, Ng says the two countries will pursue an "early progress" agreement as an initial step.

Canada, India to relaunch CEPA trade talks: Ng

Canada adds 337,000 jobs in February: StatCan

Canada adds 337,000 jobs in February: StatCan
A gain of 337,000 jobs in February more than offset the loss of 200,000 jobs in January and dropped the unemployment rate to 5.5 per cent, falling below the 5.7 per cent level where it was at in February 2020.    

Canada adds 337,000 jobs in February: StatCan

Some colleges, universities to keep masking

Some colleges, universities to keep masking
The schools are opting for a more cautious approach to COVID-19, citing concerns about potential outbreaks, while provinces – including British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario – have pointed to promising public health indicators such as test positivity rates and hospitalizations as reasons for lifting mask mandates.

Some colleges, universities to keep masking

Illicit drug deaths in B.C. climbed in January

Illicit drug deaths in B.C. climbed in January
The coroner's service says illicit drugs caused 19 deaths in Northern Health, equal to a death rate of 74.5 per 100,000 residents, by far the highest rate of any health authority.

Illicit drug deaths in B.C. climbed in January

Man Shot in Guildford residence

Man Shot in Guildford residence
On March 10th, 2022 at 11:30 PM., Surrey RCMP received a report of shots fired in the area of 14100 and 104th Avenue. Frontline officers attended the area and located a male suffering from an apparent gun-shot wound.    

Man Shot in Guildford residence

B.C. Mountie charged with obstructing justice

B.C. Mountie charged with obstructing justice
The B.C. prosecution service says the officer in Kelowna was an investigator in the case. It says Const. Sean Eckland is due to appear in Kelowna provincial court on April 4.

B.C. Mountie charged with obstructing justice