MOTION

At its meeting on July 4, 2000, Vancouver City Council resolved that the following motion be postponed to the next Regular Council meeting, to allow more time for further information to be sought with respect to points 1 and 2 of the resolution. Therefore, the motion is resubmitted for consideration.

MOVER: Cllr. Louis
SECONDER: Cllr. Bass
WHEREAS, the 2000 Federal Budget did little to right the draconian measures in the new Employment Insurance (EI) Act;

AND WHEREAS, the current Act has lead to:

1. Less than 36 percent of claimants qualifying for benefits;
2. A reduction in benefits for those who do not qualify;
3. The institution of severe penalties for incorrectly filing complicated claim forms;
4. The Federal Government withdrawing its one third share of funding the Fund;

AND WHEREAS, these changes have resulted in an accumulation of a $27 billion surplus over the past four years;

AND WHEREAS, the said surplus is now being used to finance other government initiatives;

AND WHEREAS, according to Stats-Canada the estimated loss in benefits since 1989 for Vancouver amounts to $112.6 million;

AND WHEREAS, Employment Insurance is financed by employee/employer premiums for the explicit purpose of providing wage replacement "insurance" for unemployed Canadians;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT Vancouver City Council demands that the Federal Government:

1. Implement changes to the EI Act that would allow for at least 70 percent of unemployed Canadians to be eligible for benefits;
2. That the minimum benefits paid be no less than 60 percent of earnings, with no clawbacks or penalties for repeated layoffs;
3. That the Federal Government institute an "arms length" commission to administer the EI Fund;
4. That the Fund be used for the explicit purpose of supporting unemployed workers.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver