Flaherty says focus should be on job training

With the opposition threatening an election over eligibility rules for EI, the finance minster says most Canadians want the system to work for them not against them and what the Liberals are proposing would amount to a massive increase in payroll taxes.

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CTV.ca News Staff

Date: Sun. May. 24 2009 8:28 PM ET

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty dismissed questions about boosting employment insurance benefits Sunday, saying Canadians want retraining programs to get them back to work rather than extended benefits.

Speaking on CTV's Question Period, Flaherty said that automatic stabilizers built into the EI system already ensure that more money goes to parts of the country that report higher unemployment rates.

But it's the job training agreements that the federal government recently signed with nine provinces that most help Canadians, Flaherty said.

"I think what Canadians are looking for is a system that works properly," Flaherty said. "It's not meant to be a system that keeps people on employment insurance. It's meant to be a system that encourages people to retrain so that they can support themselves with jobs."

On Friday, Human Resources Minister Diane Finley announced that the federal government signed new agreements with nine provinces that will provide funding for skills training for laid-off workers.

The money will also help workers who do not qualify for EI, Finley said.

The federal government recently also extended EI benefits by five weeks.

However, the opposition parties have been calling for further changes, including setting a national threshold of 360 paid hours of work for workers to be eligible for EI during the recession.

The current threshold, which varies by region, is between 420 and 910 hours of paid work.

Earlier this month, Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff threatened that he would topple the Conservative government if it does not make further EI changes before Parliament rises in June.

"We're a minority government," Flaherty said Sunday. "That's up to the opposition parties if they want to have an election over an issue like that."

Comments are now closed for this story

Andr� in Ontario
said

Is this retraining money taking the same route of the not yet seen or used stimulus package that he promised Canada? This government has no credibility what so ever when it comes to helping Canadians in need unless you're big banks or the big oil industry.

BOB,Calgary,Alberta
said

This whole argument is nonsensical. People who had stable jobs and have now been laid off will qualify for UI. People who are in and out of jobs will not. To put the burden of topping up UI premiums for short term workers on the taxpayer and their employers is stupid and nothing but a political ploy. Why should one qualify for UI (for one year) after working only 9 weeks. The Liberals instituted the variable rules for UI and now want to change things for purely political purposes. I can't see why anyone would trust the Liberals to run this country when they really have no coherent policies and flip flop all over the place. (witness Ignatieff's I suppoert the coalition; no wait the coalition would divide the country). The Liberals still think they are the natural rulers of Canada. A POX on their house.

Sam C
said

I see both sides of this issue:

Training needs to be RELEVANT, and in fields where one can actually expect to find a job.

EI benefits are rather paltry, and could stand a boost, but EI should not be anything more than a "safety net" while one finds another job.

Beth Cancell Liberals Party join NDP or Greens
said

Liberals stole the Green Policies last Election, now they are stealing the NDP policies are the Liberal Party needs to fold up its tent Bob Rae and Ignateiff go join the NDP, Dion can go join the green party, Ruby Dhulla the Rhino Party and Ralph Goodale a retirment party for seniors.

Vlad Yeltsin -> Liberal attack lines a laugh
said

@ Dave Hammond
Your Liberal attack lines of yesterday have been neutralized. First off it is the Liberals that are changing their mind on their own program and the Conservatives are saying to preserve it with a few added weeks.
I just wish the Liberal Party cared about people more and less about taxing and spending and I am tired of the same old insults they have been repeating for 20 yrs they mean nothing.

Frank Windsor, Ontario
said

Iggy has been reduced to trying to go left to get the NDP votes as the middle goes Conservative. The left wing politics of Stalin are not the traditional Liberals, I am agaisnt hard core socialism.

Dave Hammond Cobourg
said

Frankly I'm not quite sure what Falherty and Harper have in mind because both of them change their mind and policy like I change my underwear...Daily. And both of them would not know the truth if they slept with it. GM is getting all the attention because most of their employees live in Mr. Falherty's riding...right?
That's not to say I agree with the Liberals on the 45 day rule or whatever, but re-training doesn't work when the government is involved because the only people getting jobs out of the programns are the fontionaries the government hire to run these programs. THAT IS A WELL KNOWN FACT.
What we really need is for the government to offer cash incentives via tax breaks to small bussinesses to hire and train employees themselves to their standards... As a small bussiness owner, I would be much more likely to hire a person if I knew I was going to get some break on retraining them myself, ( WSIB rebates or EI breaks etc. ) and would also have the right to CHOOSE WHO I HIRE!!! Very important!!
GM and Chrysler are getting millions to keep 2 or 3 % of the Canadian workforce on the job. Small bussiness in this country provides 66% of ALL EMPLOYMENT. How come Mr. Harper I can't get ANY INCENTIVES or free loans to add jobs in my shop?

Election NOW. Oust these Conservative dolts.
said

They've dithered long enough while the recession inflicts more suffering on Canadians.

James
said

Interesting that many of the fresh unemployed are Albertans who traditionally vote for the conservatives.

Maybe these folks should pick up a basket and start picking some fruit.

KC-Bby
said

Flaherty should maybe consider what Canadians primary out put is about. Service, manufacturing & raw material output. What training programs is this man talking about? Many of those who lost their jobs in the manufacturing industry are middle aged men. Ya think they'll go into training to become computer technicians? Doctors? Flaherty, you already can fool your core group of supporters and based on the last few elections lead by Harper you also know your supporters are a small handful of diehards - even Nixon & Bush had that same margin. With that said, how long can you keep this game up? You know the game where you try to taunt the opposition party over and over again? Didn't the GG tell Harper to shape up and become more respectful towards the opposition party's? You think the GG will allow Herper to run behind her skirt again next time things get "coalition-like"?

Be careful about playing chicken because I remember clearly the last time you guys showed how scared you were facing down a coalition.

Reece
said

I'm getting tired of the rhetoric and the cliches this government is stuck in. Why can't we Canadians produce leaders like Obama? Why does everything have to be politicized? Since I'm no politician nor leader I would like to take some of the Conservatives up on the challege to bring on an election and attain a majority win for the conservatives. I only hope they are as ignorant about the latest polls as they are about why they voted the conservatives in the first place.

Conservatives arrogant!
said

I laugh at the Conservatives swagger! Back before Christmas Harper tried to ram some of his right wing bs through Parliament and ended up at the GG's office begging to hold on to his job. Now he has a chance to introduce some TEMPORARY measures to help citizens out who are hurting and they're prepared to go to election.

GUTSHOT!! in Thunder Bay
said

Whether youre a Liberal or Conservative its pretty obvious that retraining is a losing battle. How, you ask? Read on...

There actually has to be jobs to retrain for. For example, if laid off auto workers retrain for the office jobs that their vocal opponents possess, then that market will be flooded with available workers, thus driving down wages.

The scenario will flip and repeat, over and over again. The next thing is we will be working for food scraps. A decent life will only exist for the uber-rich. The average Joe will be starving. Thats how unions started in the first place.

People learned they were being taken advantage of and eventually realized they had the power with the vote. This cycle will repeat after we're done racing to the bottom. We're not there yet, but we're picking up steam.

In order for North America to regain its prosperity we need leaders who will get us jobs by easing taxes on industry, easing enviornmental restrictions, and cutting welfare and EI programs.

Life's tough, its tougher if you want to live at the top. We need to be tough to survive..if you want to play in the "global" arena

jim in edmonton
said

I agree with this approach. if tax payers are going to be spending gobs of money it should go into investing in people training not just given away for nothing on ei. if you are unemployed you should be taking training while looking for work. no more hand outs, just hands up through educating and training our people. when this financial crisis is over, canada will be well situation to lead the world.

Marg
said

The number of people in BC on welfare has doubled since September.
So where are these jobs you want to train people for?
The false job numbers the Harper government put out are going to catch up with them.
The only people that believe the crap this government tells us is the cons.
By the end of the year when the recession is in full swing, the people that believed Harpers crap will be the people hurting the most. More bankruptcies & a growing unemployment list.

Fraser
said

Interesting how the Liberals are all up in arms about E.I. when they gutted the system years ago in the early 90's with all their "new rules" and now they want to change them back?

Funny, very funny..............

Samual
said

Here we go again!
Training people does not stimulate the economy.
The liberal approach changing EI would create the stimulus needed. put money in the hands of Canadians & they will spend.
Training people for jobs that aren't there will be just a waste of our money.
Flaherty & Harper have the economic sense of kids in the sand box.
we need a liberal majority to clean up the mess the cons have put us in. The last time was Malroney digging a 42 billion dollar hole the liberals dug us out of.
The conservative voters on here seem to be uneducated bunch, from the comments they post.

Andrea in Ottawa
said

What people have to realize is this 360 hours threshold is only going to be a temporary threshold. Once the economy picks up, things would probably go back to normal.

Remember were in a recesssion,and people will need their unemployment until they find another job.

It is great that they can retrained, but they need their unemployment to pay for the bills, etc.

Try reducing the 2 week waiting period, so people who loose their jobs can apply for unemployment right away.

Self Motivated
said

What do you exspect the thousands of seasonal businesses to do if the 360 hr EI requirements were to come into effect?

I would guess that most employees are layed off once they have accumulated the EI hrs required.

Employers and businesses that might fall under these cicumstances might be; seasonal fishers, garden centers, construction, incometax accountants, farms, snowplow operators to name a few.

In some cases once a person is layed off and are on EI, they really don't need find employment until their poogie runs out.

Phil -> European Media not Impressed wtih Iggy
said

Mr Flarety does have it right we are doing the best out of the G8 and the world has confidence in Canada as our reputation is continuing to improve over the last few years.
I just returned from Britian and it appears Gordon Brown Liberal will be kicked out of office and the German Conservative Leader will be returned with a stronger mandate the European media is in love with Canada under Harper is not impressed with Mr Ignatieff.

Liberal Phoney Detector from Hailfax
said

If the Liberal Party of Toronto thinks these political stunts are winning them any votes they are mistaken. Even the most reasonable liberals (I don't mean the harden activists that parade around) seem to be turning away because they just seem too phoney. They say we are are taking a pricipaled stand, no they are not. They are not concerned about the EI program they just want to get control of our national bank account and are running around fear mongering. It is a kin to the Fox hearing the cries of the Hen and running to help.

Raj
said

Dont cave in .45 days and you get a year, a full year of EI.??!!I don't think so, that will break us all.Is iggy crazy?? I agree with Flaherty - we really need to think about trining, because when the EI runs out, then what?

Marg
said

I believe that the majority of Canadians out of work would prefer to be re-trained.Being able to work 45 days and collect EI for a year, could put some on the "never never" plan where they could continue to stay.Most people have too much pride for that.

Perhaps the LiberalNDP should give more credit to average Canadians.We don't want a welfare state.

To: "keeping it real" it was the Liberals who raided the EI fund of millions

Paul in Russell
said

Isn't it interesting how the media loves Iggy. Can you imagine their reaction if the Conservative leader hasen't even been in the country for 1/3 of a century? Try to comprehend how they would react if the Tory leader lived in the bad, awfull U.S of A. Major double standard.....

Liberals against everything they use to stand for
said

Jack Layton can rescue us from a election. I am confused that the Liberals put in the easier criteria for areas with higher uneployment and it seems seems fair. Now Liberals seem to be running against everything they use to stand for.
Now I have to vote Conservative to protect the Liberal policies I liked.

Self Motivated, Maritimes
said

Ok, I'm unemployed, I have 400 hrs. Should I go work in the Annapolis Valley apple orchards to get enough hours for EI or do I wait and see if the hours required for EI are reduced to 360. I know there are lots of Mexicans that can pick apples and strawberries. If the hours are reduced to 360, i know of some potatoe farmers in PEI that will need some foriegn help. With an attitude like; Apple picking is below me, this Country would never been formed.

Barb in Kamploops
said

The stimulas dollars have not hit yet, to stop the stimulas dollars for an election so people can be paid not to work makes no sense.

Jeff Seeton
said

I am sorry Mr. Flaherty but you've got this one wrong. Training does not equal jobs, just go and ask all of the .Net developers who took their training through government programs and were never able to find employment.
I have worked in this field for much of the last 10 years, both as an employment specialist in government funded programming and as the owner of a staffing and recruitment company. Training does not make a people more employable. Employers tell me, every day, that experience is required!
If this or any other government were serious about helping the unemployed return to work then they would devise a system that would make it mandatory to have a work placement at the end of any training funded by government.
Listen carefully leader of the national party; we already have these programs in place and the costs would be negligible. You can attach training to Targeted Wage Subsidy (TWS) or training to Job Creation Programs (JCP).

Roxy - NOT Handing over Canada to the USA !
said

We are not about to hand over Canada to the USA for Mr Ignatieff!
We are not the 51st State and I am Canadian and I want the Conservatives as elected by Canadians for Canadians.

Obama Fan
said

The new Liberal leader is just trying to change the channel from the nanny scandal.

Doris Surrey PEI
said

The Liberal party is out to lunch this weak team of left over Republicans, NDP and Tories and is not a government in waiting.
Every six months they have been coming up with a stupid idea. I am switching my vote from the Liberals from the NDP at least there predictable.
The last thing we need is an election to drive up the debt I so tax dollar give away.
The whole problem in Canada is the Liberal run Ontario and we don't need them to wreck the whole country.

Garry in NS
said

Job training is fine except for a couple of problems. What are people going to be trained for and, after they are trained, where are they going to work?

Tyler : Help Wanted
said

In Calgary & Fort McMurray there should be a lower theshhold, I live here in Alberta and there is help wanted signs all over. If you can't get a job its because you are too picky. My employer is hiring people from over seas because we can't get local help. Our operations in Saskatchewan have resorted to advertising in Toronto.

Niagara George
said

You can be certain that if Flaherty says it, there is a good chance it is fiction. Harper at least makes his stories sound good, but Jim doesn't even do that.

For those of you saying people shouldn't receive EI... What is the alternative? Training programs don't put food on the table.

If the person is collecting welfare and they enter a training program, there is a good chance the training expense will be subtracted from their welfare.

Good luck getting out of that rut!

Janice Maxine Don't fix it if it aint broke !
said

Michael Ignatieff father of the Carbon Tax idea that has left a GST hike on the table shows he is all over the place and not stable, I just do not trust him.
Liberal games are dangerous for our Country.
I like the government we have and even as a Liberal I say don't fic it if it aint broke

keeping it real Natty,ON
said

Was a HUGE mistake for Harper to embrace Flaherty & company of Harris' common sense revolution who left Ontario's economy in SHAMBLES, their primary talent is for Hiding facts.

Deceivin Stephen's TV statement about EI being Govt money is Totally FALSE. Fact being EI is funded by Workers & Employers, and the fund was Raided of Tens of Billions by Harper's conservatives, not leaving enough for Hard-Times.
If Canada is One country,it is unjustifyable to have different standards of qualification for something as Basic as EI.
Governing FOR his power-base is why Reformist Harper is not PM material.

Joshua (Josh)
said

Mr Ignatieff is mad Conservative attack ads show Ignatieff doing all the talking really attacking himself.
Mr. Ignatieff seems to think we are some banana republic he is prepared to gamble with over one poll in Quebec.
He wants to get to the polls before Canada figures out who he really is.

Wade Ens feel the Liberal Mesure of Pain
said

Michael Ignatieff wrote a book called " A Just Measure of Pain"
and he is causing business people to hold off on hiring or expanding because business wants the Government to be stable.
The Liberal measure of pain is hurting us all. Go back to the USA Mr Ignatieff and take your mean spirited crule political tactics with you.

Gord. Robson, Nova Scotia
said

I agree with the finance Minister retraining is what is needed.

Ignatieff can threaten all he wants but he does NOT know what he is talking about!

JOHN MESSOM CRESTON BC
said

ON EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE
WHY SHOULD ANYONE BE ALLOWED TO DRAW EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AFTER ONLY 45 DAYS IT WOULD COST TAX PAYER MILLION OF DOLLAR I AM RETIRED NOW AND HAVE NEVER DRAWNING EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE I WAS BORNING AND GREW UP IN NOVA SCOTIA LEFT THERE IN 1965 I SEEN WHAT HAPPEN DOWN THERE BACK THEN PEOPLE WOULD GO TO ONTARIO AND WORK FOR A FEW MONTH AND THEN GO BACK TO NOVA SCOTIA AND DRAW EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AND THEN WHEN IT RAN OUT GO BACK TO ONTARIO AND DO IT AL OVER AGAIN I AGREE WITH MR FLAHERTY RETRAINING IS THE WAY TO GO I VOTER FOR THE LIBERALS FOR OVER 40 YEARS BUT NEVER AGAIN

dawn
said

what i find is the statscan info...is flaherty talking in code when he made 2 responses and then on the third one no comment...i wouldn't put anything past the cons

CJ
said

This actually sounds like a balanced approach. Lets not overreact and break the bank for unemployment insurance for people who have worked only two months. Economies have to progress, and that requires that some people may have to get trained in other areas.

MAL
said

Perhaps if it was REAL job training we would care instead of feeding money to a bunch of useless private colleges to teach you what you already know, or in the case of ESL to NOT teach the folks. I was accepted to be retrained in my own field [new skills were not an option since my field was not in an emergency state. HAH!]... for 6 months. Instead I took a loan and went to a professional company and was re-trained/licensed in 1 week. My cost $800.00 and the quote for the government non-training $3200.00 The folks that trained me were the ones that licensed the 'professional Ontario college' which is why I went to them anyways, EI refused to pay for the better course. Flaherty continues to be a joke.

R/H Ontario
said

"We're a minority government," Flaherty said Sunday. "That's up to the opposition parties if they want to have an election over an issue like that."
Exactly, for once I agree with Flaherty, Bring on an Election and the Liberals will suffer FOR SURE! People are NOT ready for an Election at times like this. Give your head a shake Ignatieff, your turn for an election will come. I'm Not saying that you'll be PM but there will be an election, then you can crow all you want.

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