New EI Council and Annual Report

Summary#

This bill creates a new Employment Insurance (EI) Council to advise the Canada Employment Insurance Commission on EI matters. It also lists key duties of the Commission, including annual reporting to Parliament on EI assistance. The bill does not change EI benefits, eligibility, or premium rates paid by workers and employers.

• Establishes an advisory EI Council of worker and employer representatives (Bill, DESDA new s.29.1).
• Lets the Council issue public opinions and ask the Commission to table Council reports in Parliament (DESDA s.29.1(3)(c)–(d)).
• Requires the Commission to assess EI assistance each year and have the Minister table that assessment in Parliament (DESDA s.24(1.1)(a)).
• States the Commission makes EI regulations (with Governor in Council approval), hires an actuary, and sets the annual EI premium rate (DESDA s.24(1.1)(c)–(e)).
• Allows provinces/territories and Indigenous representatives to attend Council meetings as observers (DESDA s.29.1(5)).
• Provides no pay or benefits for Council members (DESDA s.29.1(10)) and allows the Commission to limit the questions the Council may address (DESDA s.25(1)).

What it means for you#

• Households / EI claimants

  • No change to EI benefits, eligibility, applications, or payment timing. The bill only creates an advisory body (Bill, EIA “Role of the Employment Insurance Council” after s.2).
  • You may see more public information about EI through Council opinions and the Commission’s annual assessment report tabled in Parliament (DESDA s.29.1(3)(c)–(d); s.24(1.1)(a)).

• Workers and unions

  • A formal channel to advise on EI. The worker commissioner co-chairs the Council. At least five members will come from the most representative labour organizations, appointed for up to five years (DESDA s.29.1(4)(a)–(b), (8)).
  • No remuneration for service on the Council (DESDA s.29.1(10)).
  • The Council must meet at least three times per year (DESDA s.29.1(7)).

• Employers and employer organizations

  • A formal channel to advise on EI. The employer commissioner co-chairs the Council. At least five members will come from the most representative employer organizations, appointed for up to five years (DESDA s.29.1(4)(a), (c), (8)).
  • No remuneration for service on the Council (DESDA s.29.1(10)).
  • The Council may issue public opinions on EI matters (DESDA s.29.1(3)(c)).

• Provinces/territories and Indigenous organizations

  • May attend Council meetings as observers when invited by the co‑chairs. Observers do not vote (DESDA s.29.1(5)).
  • The Commission is directed to work with provinces on EI-related benefits and measures (DESDA s.24(1.1)(f)).

• Taxpayers

  • No explicit funding in the bill and Council members are unpaid (DESDA s.29.1(10)).
  • The Commission must produce an annual EI assistance assessment for tabling in Parliament; administrative costs are not specified (DESDA s.24(1.1)(a)).

Expenses#

Estimated net cost: Data unavailable.

• No direct appropriation in the bill (Bill text).
• Council members receive CAD $0 in pay or benefits (DESDA s.29.1(10)).
• At least three Council meetings per year; administrative support costs not specified (DESDA s.29.1(7)).
• New annual assessment by the Commission must be tabled in Parliament; implementation cost not specified (DESDA s.24(1.1)(a)).

Proponents' View#

• Broadens social dialogue on EI by creating a formal, balanced Council of workers and employers, co‑chaired by their commissioners (DESDA s.29.1(2), (4)).
• Improves transparency: the Council can issue public opinions and seek to have its reports tabled; the Commission must table an annual EI assistance assessment (DESDA s.29.1(3)(c)–(d); s.24(1.1)(a)).
• Strengthens coordination with provinces/territories and Indigenous groups through observer participation (DESDA s.29.1(5)) and directs collaboration with provinces on EI measures (DESDA s.24(1.1)(f)).
• Clarifies key Commission functions (regulations, actuarial forecasts, premium rate setting), which proponents say can support stable EI financing and planning (DESDA s.24(1.1)(c)–(e)).
• Limits direct cost because members are unpaid and no appropriation is included (DESDA s.29.1(10)).

Opponents' View#

• Advisory only: the Commission may limit the topics the Council can address, and advice is non‑binding, which could blunt impact (DESDA s.25(1); s.29.1(2)).
• Representation concerns: “most representative” organizations may favor large groups and exclude smaller or regional voices; unpaid service may deter diverse participation (DESDA s.29.1(4)(b)–(c); s.29.1(10)).
• Administrative burden and delays: running at least three meetings per year and producing new assessments could require staff time and slow decisions; costs are unspecified (DESDA s.29.1(7); s.24(1.1)(a)).
• Potential duplication or role confusion: the Commission already includes worker and employer commissioners; adding a Council and an Executive Committee of commissioners could overlap (DESDA s.29.1(9); s.29.1(4)(a)).
• No direct changes to EI benefits or service delivery; critics may see limited practical gains for claimants in the short term (Bill text generally).