Finley blasts Liberals over EI changes

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The saga over Employment Insurance Reform in Canada continues.  Prior the the Parliamentary recess, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Liberal Leader and Leader of the Official Opposition, Michael Ignatieff had agreed to have a bipartisan working group to develop Employment Insurance reform prior to the fall sitting of Parliament.

The issue was that the qualifying period for Employment Insurance (EI) varies in jurisdictions across Canada from 400 to 720 hours.  Once qualified a person would draw EI for a year.

Recently Michael Igantieff has pushed for a waiting period of only 360 hours (approximately 9 weeks). 

Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources, said today that the Liberals on the committee are not moving from that position.  She said he opposition party is being unreasonable.

Ms Finley, who is part of the panel examining this issue, said, "Mr. Ignatieff and the Liberal members have publicly stated they are not willing to move off their 360-hour entry point for employment insurance

"Let me be clear, let me be very clear that working nine weeks and collecting EI for the rest of the year is something straight out of academic fantasyland.

"Mr. Ignatieff is going to have to come forward with specific, detailed financially responsible ideas that won’t raise taxes for Canadians who can least afford it at this point in time."

The Liberals have vowed to bring down the Conservative government over this issue.  Will Mr. Ignatieff be able to sell a 9 week qualifying period for EI, which no doubt would require an increase in taxes or deficit, to the Canadian electorate?