Economic Action Plan helps unemployed Manitobans

July 31, 2009

Ottawa –An extra five weeks of Employment Insurance benefits announced in Canada’s Economic Action Plan will help Manitobans get through these tough economic times says The Honourable Steven Fletcher, Member of Parliament for Charleswood-St. James-Assiniboia.

“We want to help Canadians provide for their families as they get back on their feet,” said Fletcher. “That’s why our government is providing these five extra weeks of E.I. benefits and helping those who lose their jobs through no fault of their own.”

The federal government is investing over 1 billion dollars to the Employment Insurance program from Canada’s Economic Action Plan. The Employment Insurance program provides temporary income support to Manitobans who have previously contributed to the program who are taking temporary leave from work due to illness, parenting or childbirth or to provide care to an ailing family member.

“In addition to providing an extra five weeks of E.I. benefits, the Economic Actions Plan also provides extended benefits for long-tenured workers on training, and enhanced work-sharing wage earner protection which will help to mitigate the effects of the international economic downturn on Canada,” said Fletcher.

For more information on this and other measures in Canada's Economic Action Plan, please visit: http://www.actionplan.gc.ca