EI changes will work out: But Pogey Express loses its first-class seats

by Brian Lilley

Are there no poorhouses?

You would think from the reaction to the plan to change the Employment Insurance system that the Harper Conservatives were looking to send people into poorhouses if they applied to collect pogey. In fact, a few weeks back, when the changes were first discussed, Liberal MP Wayne Easter warned of work camps.

Instead, the changes unveiled by Human Resources Minister Diane Finley on Thursday simply make it so frequent flyers on the pogey express don’t get a first-class ride. Under the new rules, those who have had three or more turns on EI in the last five years and collected 60 weeks of benefits will now only have six weeks to find a job in their chosen field before they are encouraged to look for something in another line of work. Read more…