Tony wants employment insurance benefits extended

NEWS RELEASE

TONY MARTIN, MP

************************* Harper government’s lack of job-creation strategy has unemployed needing help OTTAWA - More than 500,000 Canadians who are unemployed and who have exhausted their employment insurance benefits need an extension, New Democrats said today. New Democrat Employment Insurance Critic Yvon Godin (Acadie-Bathurst) is calling on the minister of human resources to help the more than half a million still who have not found work in the recession. “Without an effective job creation strategy, the unemployed will need government assistance. The government cannot simply offload the problem onto the provinces,” said Yvon Godin. “People who are unemployed and without employment insurance benefits still have to pay their bills and pay rent. Since social assistance benefits are just above the poverty line, there is cause for concern about these families.” “This jobless recession has hurt many in our region and the extension of EI benefits is a smart move to help them get back on their feet,” said Sault MP Tony Martin. The most recent analysis by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives shows that:

- Over 800,000 unemployed persons do not qualify for employment insurance benefits

- The benefits of over 500,000 unemployed persons will soon run out.

Yvon Godin is calling on the minister to examine potential solutions, such as extending benefits and relaxing eligibility criteria. “Until jobs become available, it is our duty as MPs to help these unemployed workers,” said Mr. Godin. “When the Liberals raided the employment insurance fund to make it look like they were good managers, they were not thinking of future economic crises. The $57 billion that disappeared at that time is needed now to help workers.” *************************