Federal analysis outlines how extra EI benefit program topped $1.92 billion
OTTAWA — A Liberal program to give extra employment insurance benefits to workers in regions hit hard by a drop in natural resource prices will end up costing almost $2 billion — more than double original estimates.
The government budgeted $827.4 million for the extra payments.
The latest department estimates show the measure will end up costing $1.92 billion, largely the result of changes that allowed more workers to receive extra payments and unemployment rates that stayed higher for longer than the government anticipated.
Further details will come out later this year when the government releases its annual report on the EI system.