The Actuarial Report on the Employment Insurance premium was released last week, which forecasts a 3-cent increase in premiums for 2024 to $1.66 for employees and $2.32 for employers, per $100 of insurable earnings. This comes even as claimants are at historic lows and there is an increased number of contributors. The reason for this increase is to pay down the debt that has accumulated in the account due to temporary measures introduced during the pandemic.
“The Federal Cabinet has the right and authority to override the recommendations of the Commission by September 30, 2023,” Anita Huberman, President & CEO, Surrey Board of Trade. “We need Minister Boissonnault to intervene as the cost to businesses will substantially increase yet again. The business community was assured that any pandemic-related program costs would be paid through general revenues.”
Many Canadians benefited from the pandemic-related programs, however, the costs of paying for these benefits is now being pushed onto all employers.
“Businesses did everything they could to stay open and retain their employees during the course of the pandemic, and only closed because of public health mandates for the good of Canadians everywhere. The responsibility to pay for these programs should not fall on the shoulders of employers. This is not right.”
The Surrey Board of Trade asks Minister Boissonnault and Cabinet to reject the proposed EI premium increase and pay any debts that have accumulated in the EI account using general revenues.
Surrey Board of Trade’s Letter to Government
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Anita Huberman, 604-634-0342, anita@businessinsurrey.com