Open for signatureElectronice-7868 · Parliament 45

Bridge EI gap for seasonal workers

Sign on the House of Commons website

Petitioners ask the House to implement permanent Employment Insurance measures to bridge the post‑season 'spring gap', reduce qualifying hours and increase eligible weeks, and review EI regions for local alignment.

Why we would sign this petition

  • Would provide continuous income between seasons, reducing financial hardship for seasonal workers and their families.
  • Could stabilize local economies by maintaining consumer spending and supporting public services during off‑season periods.
  • Aligning EI regions and lowering hours would improve access to benefits for seasonal workers and help retain staff in key industries.

Why we wouldn’t sign this petition

  • Expanding permanent EI benefits may increase program costs and require higher premiums or reallocation of public funds.
  • Lowering eligibility hours and expanding weeks could complicate administration and require significant changes to rules and enforcement.
  • Permanent adjustments might create unintended work‑incentives or be less efficient than targeted, temporary supports tailored to specific sectors.

The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.

Official petition

Petition to the House of Commons in Parliament assembled Seasonal industries are essential to the economic and social vitality in many regions across Canada; Seasonal workers pay their full share of employment insurance premiums but may find themselves without income between the end of their benefits and their return to employment, a period often referred to as the “spring gap”; This period puts families in a vulnerable position, reduces spending at local businesses and undermines the stability of services provided to the public; The number of hours required to qualify for benefits is far too high given the short duration of seasonal work; Employment Insurance Economic Regions are not aligned with local circumstances, and fluctuations in regional unemployment rates limit access to benefits or their duration; Measures tailored to seasonal industries promote workforce retention and community resilience. We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the House of Commons in Parliament assembled to: 1. Implement permanent employment insurance measures that bridge the gap between the end of benefits and the return to work in seasonal industries; 2. Reduce the number of hours required to qualify for benefits and increase the number of eligible weeks; 3. Review the Employment Insurance Economic Regions to ensure that they are better aligned with local circumstances; and 4. Move from consultation to action without delay, given that various consultations have already been conducted.

Government response

No government response is available yet.