Food Banks Canada says employment insurance doesn’t serve modern workforce

Food Banks Canada says Canada’s employment insurance no longer serves the broader and shifting workforce as more people take up gig work or part-time jobs.

In its latest poverty report card, the organization says the labour market has shifted toward part-time, temporary and contract work, while EI only caters to a shrinking workforce that has stable, full-time work with a single employer.

Food Banks Canada chief executive Kirstin Beardsley says the outdated EI system is one of the greatest threats to Canada’s resiliency as unemployment remains elevated and households struggle to keep up with the high cost of living.

The report suggests EI eligibility is at the heart of the issue, which requires workers to accumulate a set number of insurable hours within a fixed period.