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Harper campaign promise: Open EI program to self-employed

by Tina Kells | September 15, 2008 at 09:06 am

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The campaigning game keeps getting hotter in the Canadian Election, with Prime Minister Stephen Harper announcing today that he wants to open up Employment Insurance benefits to the self-employed.

The move is seen as an attempt to court the female vote. Statistics Canada figures show that nearly 1 million women were self-employed as of 2007. Employment Insurance benefits are especially important to women who want to have children, as maternity benefits are part of the program.

Under the current system, Canadians who run their own businesses do not pay into the federal Employment Insurance program and as a result, can't tap into paid maternity leave or parental benefits.

Harper called that unjust and said he would change the system if re-elected.

"Self-employed Canadians -- and those who one day hope to be -- shouldn't have to choose between starting a family and starting a business because of government policy," Harper said in Ottawa after meeting with the owners of a salon and day spa.

"They should be able to pursue their dreams -- both as entrepreneurs and as parents."

Harper appeared to be taking a page from former prime minister Jean Chretien, who won votes by extending maternity leave benefits from six months to one year.

The self-employed make up 15% of the Canadian workforce and their numbers are growing. Currently self-employed people cannot access EI benefits under any circumstance. Harper's proposal will give self-employed Canadians the ability to opt into the program by paying both the employee and employer portions of EI premiums.

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