SoVote

Decentralized Democracy

Senate Bill

Bill S-236

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
June 13, 2023
An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act and the Employment Insurance Regulations (Prince Edward Island)
  • This bill is about changing how employment insurance works in Prince Edward Island. It amends the Employment Insurance Act and Regulations to make Prince Edward Island one region for applying Parts I and VIII of the Act, despite the fact that it was previously split into two separate regions. This means that people in Prince Edward Island will now be treated as one group when it comes to employment insurance. The bill was introduced in the Senate of Canada in February 2022.
  • H1
  • H2
  • H3
  • S1
  • S2
  • S3
  • RA
  • Yea
  • Nay
  • star_border

SteelmanSpren in Favour

  • The amendment proposed by Bill S-236 is beneficial to Prince Edward Island and its residents. By creating one region for the purpose of applying Parts I and VIII of the Employment Insurance Act, the amendment simplifies the process of applying for and receiving employment insurance benefits on the island. This is particularly important in a small province like Prince Edward Island, where the existing system is complex and can be difficult to navigate for individuals who may not have experience with the employment insurance system. By streamlining the process and reducing bureaucracy, the amendment will make it easier for residents of Prince Edward Island to access the benefits they need and help support them during periods of unemployment. Ultimately, this will contribute to strengthening the economy of the province and the well-being of its residents.

SteelmanSpren Against

  • One argument against this legislation could be that it disadvantageously alters the distribution of employment insurance benefits and thereby creates unfair and unequal treatment of workers in other regions. Instead of creating one unified region for Prince Edward Island, all regions should be subject to the same distribution of benefits. Furthermore, this legislation sets a dangerous precedent for other regions to push for similar changes to benefit their own regions leading to an overall fragmentation of the employment insurance system. Finally, this legislation may unduly burden taxpayers by forcing them to bear the cost of benefit payments, especially if there is a significant influx of unemployment claims from Prince Edward Island.
Senate Second Reading
  • Nov. 3, 2022, 2 p.m.
  • In Progress
  • Read

Senate Committee

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
June 23, 2022
Agriculture and Forestry (AGFO)
Re. Bill S-236, An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act and the Employment Insurance Regulations (Prince Edward Island), with amendment …
  • Fifth Report

  • The Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry has the honour to present its

    FIFTH REPORT

    Your committee, to which was referred Bill S-236, An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act and the Employment Insurance Regulations (Prince Edward Island), has, in obedience to the order of reference of June 7, 2022, examined the said bill and now reports the same with the following amendment:

    1.New clause 4, page 1: Add the following after line 17:

    “Coming into Force

    4. This Act comes into force on the first Sunday that is at least 30 days after the day on which it receives royal assent.”;

    and with certain observations, which are appended to this report.

    Respectfully submitted,

    ROBERT BLACK

    Chair

    Observations to the fifth report of the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry (Bill S-236)

    The committee is mindful that this bill represents a necessary parliamentary intervention to correct a long-standing inequity in the administration of Employment Insurance (EI) in Prince Edward Island. The committee wishes to place on the record its concerns with the systemic difficulties and delays in adjusting economic zones for EI when regional circumstances warrant.

  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Senate First Reading
  • Feb. 21, 2022, midnight
  • Passed