Legislation would offer parental benefits to self-employed
Posted on November 2, 2009 in Child & Family Debates, Debates, Governance Debates, Social Security Debates
—
TheGlobeandMail.com – News – Legislation would offer parental benefits to self-employed: Plans to be unveiled this week would extend EI program
Published on Sunday, Nov. 01, 2009. Last updated on Monday, Nov. 02, 2009. Shawn McCarthy, Ottawa
The Harper government plans to introduce legislation Tuesday to allow self-employed Canadians to access maternity and parental benefits under the federal employment insurance program.
Under the proposed amendments to the Employment Insurance Act, some 2.7-million self-employed people would be able to join the program and pay roughly half the normal premiums to obtain the special benefits, a senior government source said Sunday.
“Entrepreneurs, trades people and other self-employed Canadians contribute to the prosperity of our country and the economy,” the official said.
“Unfortunately, they have little support to help them with major life events such as giving birth or caring for a new child, and we don’t think this is right. We don’t think they should have to choose between starting a family and starting a business.”
Prime Minister Stephen Harper promised during the 2008 election campaign to provide some EI benefits to the self-employed. The New Democrats have already indicated they support such changes, and the amendment will provide justification for NDP Leader Jack Layton to prop up Mr. Harper’s minority government.
The legislation would allow self-employed – from real estate agents and accountants, to truck drivers and hairdressers – to enroll in the EI program and pay only the employee’s share of the premium.
For 2009, employees pay $1.73 per $100 of earnings up to a maximum of $731.79 for the year, and their employers pay an additional 1.4 times of each worker’s premiums.
To be eligible for 15 weeks of maternity benefits or 35 weeks of parental leave, a self-employed worker must pay into the program for at least a year prior to filing a claim.
And once they opt in and receive benefits, they will not be allowed to opt out, but will have to continue paying premiums.
Quebec workers won’t have access to the federal plan because they are already covered by a provincial benefits program and pay a portion of their EI premiums to the province to cover that cost.
The federal official said it is unclear how many of the 2.7-million self-employed are likely to benefit from the plan, or what it would cost. “It depends on the pick-up,” he said.
The NDP has called for years to changes to the employment insurance plan to allow the self-employed to take time off to care for newborns or adopted children.
The New Democrats have vowed to support the Conservative government in office in order to extend EI coverage, after supporting a bill earlier this fall to provide longer benefit periods for long-tenured workers.
The Liberals had threatened to bring down the Harper minority government last June over employment insurance, specifically their demand that the government extend benefit periods for workers in regions that typically had low unemployment. Those employees have to work longer to qualify for EI than counterparts in regions with traditionally high jobless rates.
The Conservatives have argued it would simply be too expensive to make the broad-based changes that had been demanded by the Liberals.
< http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/legislation-would-offer-parental-benefits-to-self-employed/article1347348/ >
This entry was posted on Monday, November 2nd, 2009 at 12:00 am and is filed under Child & Family Debates, Debates, Governance Debates, Social Security Debates. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.
149 Responses to “Legislation would offer parental benefits to self-employed”
« Older Comments | Newer Comments »
Recent Comments
I discovered your weblog site on google and verify just a few of your early posts. Proceed to maintain up the very good operate. I simply further up your RSS feed to my MSN News Reader.
Like the way you’ve outlined things. Easy to follow. Not cluttered.
A cool post there mate ! Thank you for posting.
Hello this is a wonderful write-up. I’m going to e mail this to my friends. I came on this while searching on yahoo I’ll be sure to come back. thanks for sharing.
This is definitely a wonderful webpage, thanks a lot..
Simply want to say your article is as amazing. The clarity in your post is just great and i can assume you’re an expert on this subject. Fine with your permission allow me to grab your feed to keep up to date with forthcoming post. Thanks a million and please keep up the gratifying work.
Im impressed. I dont think Ive met anyone who knows as much about this subject as you do. Youre truly well informed and very intelligent. You wrote something that people could understand and made the subject intriguing for everyone. Really, great blog youve got here.
I am lucky that I discovered this website , precisely the right info that I was searching for! .
Good site! I truly love how it is easy on my eyes it is. I am wondering how I might be notified when a new post has been made. I’ve subscribed to your RSS which may do the trick? Have a great day!
This will be helpful for my family.
While this issue can vexed most people, my thought is that there has to be a middle or common ground that we all can find. I do value that you’ve added pertinent and sound commentary here though. Thank you!
A friend of mine advised this site. And yes. it has some useful pieces of info and I enjoyed scaning it. Therefore i would love to drop you a quick note to express my thank. Take care
A neighbor of mine encouraged me to take a look at your blog site couple weeks ago, given that we both love similar stuff and I will need to say I am quite impressed.
I don’t normally comment on blogs.. But nice post! I just bookmarked your site
Simply wish to say the frankness in your article is surprising.
Great blog here! Additionally your website rather a lot up very fast! What host are you the usage of? Can I get your associate link for your host? I desire my website loaded up as fast as yours lol
Αν έχεις ήδη αποφασίσει να φύγεις από τις πλατφόρμες με ελληνική άδεια ΕΕΕΠ, η ερώτηση δεν είναι «αξίζει;» αλλά «ποια από αυτές αξίζει περισσότερο;». Ελέγξαμε 15 διεθνείς στοιχηματικές εταιρείες που λειτουργούν στην Ελλάδα το 2026: ανοίξαμε λογαριασμούς με ελληνικά στοιχεία, δοκιμάσαμε καταθέσεις με κάρτα και κρυπτονόμισμα, και μετρήσαμε τον πραγματικό χρόνο ανάληψης. Το βασικό κίνητρο για τους περισσότερους είναι πρακτικό: οι διεθνείς πλατφόρμες δεν εφαρμόζουν αυτόματη παρακράτηση φόρου επί των κερδών, δεν κόβουν λογαριασμούς που κερδίζουν συστηματικά και προσφέρουν ευρύτερη γραμμή με περισσότερα αθλήματα. Οι εταιρείες που ακολουθούν δέχονται εγγραφή από την Ελλάδα, η πρόσβαση στον ιστότοπο δεν απαιτεί VPN και κανένας από αυτούς δεν βρίσκεται στον κατάλογο αποκλεισμένων τοποθεσιών της ΕΕΕΠ κατά την τελευταία επικαιροποίηση.
I like meeting utile info, this post has got me even more info!
Wpisujesz w wyszukiwarkę frazę „polskie kasyno” i chcesz znaleźć sprawdzoną platformę? Najczęściej chodzi o licencjonowane kasyno online dostępne dla graczy z Polski, które oferuje BLIK, korzystne promocje, szybkie wypłaty oraz obsługę w języku polskim. Porównujemy operatorów pod kątem rejestracji, metod wpłat i wypłat, bonusów bez depozytu, darmowych spinów, poziomu wsparcia klienta oraz liczby dostępnych gier. Ranking na 2026 rok obejmuje serwisy dostępne dla graczy z Polski, ale nie sprowadza się jedynie do listy najlepsze kasyna online. Publikujemy również recenzje operatorów, dane dotyczące licencji i statusu prawnego, informacje o popularnych grach, zasady bezpiecznej oraz odpowiedzialnej rozgrywki, a także porównanie platform internetowych z kasynami stacjonarnymi.
937751 113434Up to now, you need to term of hire an absolute truck or van and will also be removal equipments to valuable items plus take a look at the new destination. From the long run, which finish up with are couple of points except anxiety moreover stress and anxiety. removals stockport 472874