Government Survey Just Released

Article in Toronto Star June 18, 2009
More benefits not key for all self-employed
June 18, 2009

OTTAWA-A pledge to extend maternity and parental benefits to the
self-employed is now part of the Conservative government's pitch to stay
in power next fall.

Problem is, for nearly half the country's self-employed, it's a pitch
that seems to fall flat.

A survey of self-employed Canadians, commissioned by the Human
Resources and Skills Development Department, shows half expressed
"interest" in parental benefits - which may be taken by either parent or
shared by both.

But 45 per cent expressed little or no interest in them.

As for maternity benefits - paid to a mother who takes leave from work
after the birth of a child - 45 per cent showed interest and, more
important, 47 per cent showed a lack of interest, according to the
survey.

What really interested a majority of the 882 self-employed Canadians
who filled out an in-depth survey was access to sickness benefits or
compassionate-care benefits to care for a child or gravely ill family
member (83-86 per cent).

And 74 per cent liked the idea of EI-like benefits in case of business
failure. One-quarter expressed little or no interest in this.

Yet 56 per cent of self-employed workers were not at all interested in
a mandatory program that would see them charged premiums for access to
benefits.

The lengthy analysis of the needs and attitudes of Canada's
self-employed was completed in May 2006 after the Conservatives took
power.

Last fall, as part of his pitch to female voters, Harper proposed only
a voluntary program that he said would cost $147 million annually and be
self-financed once self-employed people opted in and began paying
premiums.

Right now, self-employed Canadians - outside Quebec - do not pay into
the employment insurance program and are not eligible for jobless
benefits, maternity or otherwise.

More than 2.6 million Canadians are self-employed.

Letter from Minister Findley

After waiting for 2 months for a reply from the Minister I received the following letter today. Nothing that we already didn't know but we can now assume she realises we're out here looking for benefits also. You be the judge!

Dear Mr. Hopkins:



I am writing in response to your electronic message of January 14, 2009, which the Office of the Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Stephen Harper, also forwarded to me, concerning the Employment Insurance (EI) program. I also acknowledge receipt of your subsequent correspondence of January 22 and 28, 2009, as well as February 4, 2009. I apologize for this delayed reply.

Self-employed workers are an important component of the labour force and they make a significant contribution to the Canadian economy and society.

Under the current EI eligibility requirements, workers receive benefits only if they have contributed to the program by paying premiums in the past year and if they meet qualifying and entitlement conditions. Moreover, the EI program is currently designed for workers in employer-employee relationships. Other than self-employed fishers who have a deemed employer, self-employed workers are not insured under the EI program. In regards to self-employed fishers, the buyer of their catch takes on the role of the employer by paying the employer's portion of EI premiums, filling out Record of Employment forms and maintaining records related to the self-employed fishers' earnings.

In the November 19, 2008, Speech from the Throne, the Government indicated that it would take measures to increase access to maternity and parental benefits under EI. Further to this, as you point out, Budget 2009 announced that the Government will be establishing an Expert Panel that will consult on how to best provide self-employed Canadians with access to EI maternity and parental benefits. These benefits could help self-employed parents to better balance work and family responsibilities and give them the opportunity to spend more time with their newborn or newly-adopted children.



You may be pleased to learn that through Canada's Economic Action Plan, the Government increased the funding to provinces and territories for training and support measures through the Strategic Training and Transition Fund, which will, amongst others, provide support to self-employed workers.



In regards to your interest in the membership of the Expert Panel, further information on the Panel will be made available over the coming months.


Thank you for taking the time to write.

Yours sincerely,

The Hon. Diane Finley, P.C., M.P.

Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development

EI Debate march 5th in the House

There was a lengthy debate on all of EI around a motion made by the NDP and Supported by the Liberals and BQ. You can read all about it at a link posted on the Facebook Group page, for some reason I can't post it here.
Self Employment is mentioned several times as is this Campaign by Micheal Savage ( Dartmouth-Cole harbour)
Its a long read, bedtime story but at least it's made it to the floor of the House.

Liberal Critic Response

Earlier today, Feb.20 I sent the following letter to 3 Liberal MP's and Senator Sibbetson.
I got a surpriseingly quick response from Michael John Savage, Cole Harbour and Liberal HRSDC Critic and member of the HUMA Parliamentary Committee. He requested a tele-conference for early next week! So if you have any further ideas or topics that haven't already been discussed here and the Facebook Group, please forward them to me prior to Monday the 23rd.
Cheers Chris

Hello Honourable Members;

I thought I should write to you all at once because the 3 of you have shown interest in helping this cause move along in the process(s) of Parliament.
Can you tell me what decision, if any has been made to introduce the Campaign through a question to Minister Findley during Question Period, or at the Committee level ?
The other question I'm curious to ask is has there been any announcements regarding the Panel of Experts that is to be struck to look into the proposed Maternity/Parental Benefits for the Self Employed. AS I have said before, this action will most likely bring more avenues and possibilities to all the Self Employed.

I appreciate your continued interest in this cause and I know you are busy with many other topics, especially so because of the main Budget still having to pass muster in the House.

Please keep me up to date on this and any other points that may arise.
Just as an aside, I have never got a response from the Ministers ( Findley,Flaherty, Harper) on this nor anything from Gail Shea or Lawrence MacCauley, so I can only assume that denotes their level of interest, to put it nicely.

Cheers
Chris Hopkins
Campaign for Equality in the EI Act for the Self Employed
902-969-8569

Next Focus for our Efforts

The next step to getting what we hope for is to lobby the Committee responsible that committee is HUMA. It's membership is
Vellacott.M@parl.gc.ca <Vellacott.M@parl.gc.ca>; Martin.T@parl.gc.ca <Martin.T@parl.gc.ca>; Allison.D@parl.gc.ca <Allison.D@parl.gc.ca>; Beaudin.J@parl.gc.ca <Beaudin.J@parl.gc.ca>; Cadman.D@parl.gc.ca <Cadman.D@parl.gc.ca>; Cannan.R@parl.gc.ca <Cannan.R@parl.gc.ca>; Folco.R@parl.gc.ca <Folco.R@parl.gc.ca>; Lessard.Y@parl.gc.ca <Lessard.Y@parl.gc.ca>; Komarnicki.E@parl.gc.ca <Komarnicki.E@parl.gc.ca>; Savage.M@parl.gc.ca <Savage.M@parl.gc.ca>; Minna.M@parl.gc.ca <Minna.M@parl.gc.ca> Sorry for the doubles, hey use them twice.
I drafted the following letter to them, basically the same asthe Ministers letter but directed towards them. Cut and Paste into emails with different addresses, date and sign. Lets do this. Edit it as you please.

FebruaryXX 2009

Dear Honourable HUMA Committee member

I am writing to you today on behalf of the 2.3 Million Self Employed Canadians who now find themselves or may find themselves “unself-employed” during this economic downturn in our economy.

I was encouraged by the Governments commitment to strike a Panel of Experts to study the best way to bring Parental and Maternity benefits to some of the Self Employed men and women. There was also some inclusion in the special allotment of $500 Million for training, which is also good.

The main thrust of the National Campaign for Equality in EI for the Self Employed is to bring all of those who wish to opt in, the ability to contribute to and be able to access benefits for Medical, Parental, Maternity and General Benefits across Canada.

As it has been pointed out to you in past letters, this is very doable and legislation is there in the Employment Insurance Act to allow Parliament to quickly open it up to us.

As for determining who is or isn’t in dire need, there are many easy avenues to show the need. As the burden of proof is rightly on the Self Employed individual to show need, many mitigating factors are normally present.
Parental Benefits and Maternity Benefits and Medical Benefits would fall under the same rules and proof of need as any other Canadian applying for those Benefits.

As was mistakenly pointed out in the Canadian Press article on January 27th by a representative of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, the allotment of General Benefits for the Self Employed is in fact not hard to prove need.

An assortment of documents produced by someone other than the claimant, such as, Bankruptcy Filings, Statement of Business failure by a accredited accountant, and bank statements, would certainly prove the need and failure of their livelihood. As for the other comments by the CFIB, I would like to point out that their membership is stated by them as 105,000 Independent Business people. Our numbers are 2.3 Million and we feel they do not speak for us nor should they.

Most of us have saved for rainy days such as what is now upon our nation, and unfortunately we, like most Canadians have seen those savings disappear. Even if some Self Employed had some savings left, that doesn’t mean they have to use them up before seeking Benefits, as other Canadians in the same situation do not have to. And at this time if any Canadian had any spare money to invest, just what would they invest in?

This can be done, it could be self financing just like the rest of the EI program, along with the fact that it would only add approximately 1-2 % to the allotted amount scheduled to be spent on improved EI benefits. That is very a very small investment by the current Government to save a major portion of the backbone of Canada’s economy at this time of uncertainty, if they require assistance.

In closing I will only ask that you and your Committee Members take a hard look at the points I have brought forward and that when they strike this Panel of Experts looking at Parental and Maternity Benefits you seek to include actual Self Employed Canadians to be an integral part of the panel.

I wish you all the best and look forward to positive news in the media, on CPAC, and within our group as you move forward.

Sincerely

Supportive Editorial

Today out here on PEI we got a very supportive Editorial in the Charlottetown Guardian. Here's the link
http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=218226&sc=103

If you spot one in your local paper please post it here

Letter for Everyone to Send

It's Monday the start of another work week. If you have time please cut and paste the following letter into an email to Dianne Findley, Minister of HRSDC and CC you MP.
Her email is Finley.D@parl.gc.ca ,
Feel free to edit the letter, I am certainly not a pro at this, so have at it, and her! Also forward it to your friends, employees, co-workers, family, and friends to have them send it also, PLEASE.
We need to keep the pressure on.


FebruaryXX 2009

Dear Honourable Dianne Findley

I am writing to you today on behalf of the 2.3 Million Self Employed Canadians who now find themselves or may find themselves “unself-employed” during this economic downturn in our economy.

I was encouraged by your Governments commitment to strike a Panel of Experts to study the best way to bring Parental and Maternity benefits to some of the Self Employed men and women. There was also some inclusion in the special allotment of $500 Million for training, which is also good.

The main thrust of the National Campaign for Equality in EI for the Self Employed is to bring all of those who wish to opt in, the ability to contribute to and be able to access benefits for Medical, Parental, Maternity and General Benefits across Canada.

As it has been pointed out to you in past letters, this is very doable and legislation is there in the Employment Insurance Act to allow Parliament to quickly open it up to us.

As for determining who is or isn’t in dire need, there are many easy avenues to show the need. As the burden of proof is rightly on the Self Employed individual to show need, many mitigating factors are normally present.
Parental Benefits and Maternity Benefits and Medical Benefits would fall under the same rules and proof of need as any other Canadian applying for those Benefits.

As was mistakenly pointed out in the Canadian Press article on January 27th by a representative of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, the allotment of General Benefits for the Self Employed is in fact not hard to prove need.

An assortment of documents produced by someone other than the claimant, such as, Bankruptcy Filings, Statement of Business failure by a accredited accountant, and bank statements, would certainly prove the need and failure of their livelihood. As for the other comments by the CFIB, I would like to point out that their membership is stated by them as 105,000 Independent Business people. Our numbers are 2.3 Million and we feel they do not speak for us nor should they.

Most of us have saved for rainy days such as what is now upon our nation, and unfortunately we , like most Canadians have seen those savings disappear. Even if some Self Employed had some savings left, that doesn’t mean they have to use them up before seeking Benefits, as other Canadians in the same situation do not have to. And at this time if any Canadian had any spare money to invest, just what would they invest in?

This can be done, it could be self financing just like the rest of the EI program, along with the fact that it would only add approximately 1-2 % to the allotted amount scheduled to be spent on improved EI benefits. That is very a very small investment by the current Government to save a major portion of the backbone of Canada’s economy at this time of uncertainty, if they require assistance.

In closing I will only ask that you and your departmental policy staff take a hard look at the points I have brought forward and that when you strike this Panel of Experts looking at Parental and Maternity Benefits you seek to include actual Self Employed Canadians to be an integral part of the panel.

I wish you all the best and look forward to positive news in the media and within our group as you move forward.

Sincerely

We have Action

I have just found in the fine print of the budget that the government is striking a panel of experts to study the best way to allow self employed women to get maternity Benefits. This now means that if they implement that we have a clear charter issue and lots more ammunition to fight for full benefits and medical.
I sent the Minister a quick message to ask to be one of her experts, worth a shot.
Everyone talk amongst your yourselves have a celebratorical drink if you imbide. I'm a happy protagonist!!!!

the quote " and the establishment of an expert panel to study how best to provide maternity and parental benefits to the self-employed." and
"Money will also be provided for a strategic training and transition fund for Canadians no eligible for EI training, including the self-employed and those who have been out of work."

Media Coverage Attained

A friend sent me this search he ran on our Campaign thru Google, we sure hit the whole country
but we got to keep at them
http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&q=ei+for+the+self+employed+%2B+chris+Hopkins&meta=

Letter to Iggy and Senior Liberals

Gentlemen;
I'm the guy who started the Campaign for Equality in the EI Act for the Self Employed, it's gained alot of strength these past few days and got a wonderful amount of very positive press.
I was disgusted with the budget just presented as it does nothing for any of the 600,000 unemployed who paid into it yet are deemed ineligible. They can't get any of that skills and training dollars because they aren't drawing and can't draw EI. There was nothing pegged towards the self employed not even his maternity benefits promise in September.
Michael I can only hope that you stand by your word that this budget had to Help the Vulnerable! I don't see it, there's nothing. There's more money for banks that made huge profits off Canadians for years now they get our tax dollars also! More money for the foreign auto sector who are part of the problem certainly not part of the solution. They, the Harper government got this wrong, way wrong and now it's up to you and the rest of the official opposition to stand up for all of the vulnerable Canadians that were completely discarded in the trash , again by Harper. man up and either force amendments to change what needs to be changed to help those Canadians most in economic need or defeat it and lets get on with a real government for Canada.
Sincerely
Chris Hopkins
EI For The Self Employed

Gross Disappointments

Well now, I had to use the term Gross Disappointment for what has just been put to the House of Commons and Canadians. Other than tagging on 5 weeks of benefits for those already drawing EI, there is nothing there for either the Self Employed or the 600,000 unemployed Canadians who paid in yet are deemed ineligible by the current governments rules.
It made me sick to my stomach when I realised that they are helping the very people that caused this downturn and caused the layoffs and 100,000 unemployed but squat for the uneemployed. I can only hope that Iggy will keep his word that for his support the budget must address the VULNERABLE, because it isn't there. He also said he would not support broad based tax cuts, though small they're there. How on earth do these guys think that they'll have a surplus in 4 years. Do they really think we're that stupid.
We will keep fighting, I don't see this as a set back, maybe I should have started it earlier but I will march on and hopefully you will also.

Response to CFIB Comments in CP Story

I know many readers of this blog have read the CP story from Monday across Canada. I just sent the following letter to Corinne Pohlmann of the CFIB in response to her remarks.
I feel I straightened her out.

Hello Corinne;
My name is Chris Hopkins and I am the self employed small business man who started the Campaign for Equality in the EI Act for the Self Employed. I have been meaning to comment back to you directly regarding your remarks on this subject with CTV news. Firstly I am of the belief that everyone is allowed their point of View.
I don't believe CFIB speaks for the self employed. certainly not the majority of us. Your organization claims to have 105,000 members yet there are at last count 2.3 million Self Employed.
Your comments that your membership would rather invest their money instead of paying into EI. I'm sure some could afford to do that but most of us don't have the money to invest in the first place and with today's market "invest in what". Again you aren't speaking for the majority of self employed when you made that remark.
Thirdly, as far as administering the change, you state that your organization feels it's unworkable. Again I disagree.
If a self employed person decides to "opt in" and pay into the fund for at least 6 months, the facts will speak for themselves when they apply for benefits.
What differences to you see id a regular claimant and a self employed claimant if they are applying for Maternity or Medical benefits? Do the self employed fake illness and pregnancy?
As for regular unemployed claimants, a accounting from their accountant showing business failure, bankruptcy filings and bank accounts go a very long way to proving the need of this individual.
On top of that many self employed business people have employees, likely in the 100,s of thousands. if the business fails those employees are eligible for EI benefits, why shouldn't the business owner and employer have that same social safety net? If CFIB closes down you'd get benefits? If my business goes bankrupt why can't I put in a claim.
I'm not doing all of this work for myself, I believe it's too late for my business, It's pretty much toast and by my own feelings one would have to pay into the fund for at least 6 months before making a claim. That isn't going to be feasible in my case.
So, please take the time to research the whole problem and the solutions before you and your organization pontificates on the subject, against the 2.3 million self employed.

Regards
Chris Hopkins

Further news this Tuesday, Senator Nick Sibbetson from the Western Arctic is now a supporter and will be speaking to others in the Red Chamber about this campaign.

One Last Chance to Influence

Tomorrows our last chance to influence the budget, and the oppositions view that this should be in there and to show them that we're serious. So if you have time tomorrow morning before they go sit on their bums give your MP a call or send them an email reminding them of how you feel about the need to bring equality to the EI Program for the 2.3 Million self employed in Canada. Then watch it if you can.

More Media

Well I seem to have really started something. Lots of members to the Facebook Group. I'm doing a live radio interview today Radio Noon in the Maritimes and will be interviewed by Nancy Wilson tomorrow at 11:30 Atlantic on CBC Newsworld. Also a radio station in the Niagara region of Ontario tomorrow sometimes. So keep at you MP/PMO and Minister of HRDC Dianne Findlay.

Comments from the Globe Article

Gerald Saunders writes in support
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090123.wei_budget0123/CommentStory/budget2009/home#comment3068008


and Margaret Ermie does also
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090123.wei_budget0123/CommentStory/budget2009/home#comment3066715

The Canadian Press Story as it appears on CBC.ca
http://www.cbc.ca/cp/Atlantic/090125/t012508A.html

Interesting interview of Dianne Findlay, Minister of HRDC, no clear answers, but what were we expecting jusy throwing out more hypothetical billions
http://watch.ctv.ca/news/ctvs-question-period/jan-25-2009/#clip133160

More from CTV news
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090125/EI_campaign_090125/20090125?hub=Canada

The Globe and Mail article

Finally it's up for all to read and comment on
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090123.wei_budget0123/BNStory/budget2009/home

What Lies Ahead

I got a great surprise last night when the Canadian Press called and did an interview about this Campaign. It will be put on their news wire for Monday Editions across Canada. The Globeandmail.com piece will be posted Friday.
I was nice enough to send each MP a heads up about the story going National and suggested they prepare some briefing notes for when they get calls from their self employed constituents. I'm too nice.
I even sent the PMO a seperate email telling them what I was doing and about the coming press. So if you are reading this and agreed with what I'm trying to bring about, email your MP and Mr. Harper at Prime Minister/Premier ministre <pm@pm.gc.ca>.
Good Luck

Globe and Mail Picks up on the Campaign

I have been informed that the Globe and Mail has chosen this campaign story to be part of a live budget hub ( not sure what that exactly means) today with a series of 'wish list' items for inclusion in the budget. More to follow!
Well, actually Wednesday on the GlobeandMail.com Report on business section. I'll post the full url as soon as they send it too me.

Hitting the Print Media

Today I sent the MP letter and explanatory cover note to every major newspaper across Canada and a lot of other smaller dailies. Now I'll wait for a response or 2. Still nothing from the MP's across Canada, except the PMO staffer who passes the bucks for Steve.

Sunday January 17th Where We're At

Since Starting this campaign for "Equality Under the EI Act "I have sent all MP's the above letter twice, as I have had no responses , EXCEPT the PMO and Dianne Findley, Minister in charge of EI.
I also sent a copy to just about every social commentary individual, people like Rex Murphy, Don Newman, Rick Mercer, Judy Rebick and organizations that are relevant, like the CLC, CFIB, CD Howe Institute, the Fraser Institute, Canadian Federation of Agriculture, Canadian Farmers Union, Council of Canadians and so on.
If you are intersted in helping please contact your MP and the PMO, inundate them, maybe they maybe catch on that this is a real issue that needs to be looked at immediately.
The original CBC interview I did here on PEI has been sent to all CBC outlets, I'm doing a print interview with the Charlottetown Guardian which will be posted hopefully to the Canadian Press network and right in Harpers Heartland I expect to do another CBC interview this time with CBC Calgary.
So Please help if you can, add to this blog, email your cohorts for Social Change!

Campaign begins

Hello all from PEI. I'm a small businessman, self employed and I'm on a mission to have changes made to the current EI Act so to allow the self employed to participate. The self employed make up 15% of Canada's workforce are Self Employed.
Many self employed are beginning to feel the economic crunch, I know I surely am as I already live in a depressed area of Canada...oh well the seafood is cheap!
I have undertaken to have the Government of Canada enact legislation to allow the self employed to contribute to the EI Fund and if ever needed be able to draw down from that fund, which currently has a huge surplus.
I only started this campaign on Tuesday January 12 and I feel I have made a good start. I got my campaign going by getting on the CBC evening news, I have started a Facebook group, EI for the Self Employed m a blog http://www.eifortheselfemployed.blogspot.com/ and today I wrote to every MP in the country stating my reasoning.
That letter is below:


Dear Honourable Member;

I am writing to you today to ask that you work and strive to make changes to the current eligibility rules so to allow for Self Employed business people to be able to contribute too and be eligilible to make a claim for EI. Currently this group, the self employed, makes up 15% of Canada's workforce. In a majority of cases those self employed individuals end up hiring staff and building the economy even more.

I myself run a small business, by myself, it's outdoor work and over the last 3 months I have only been able to work for clients 5 days, not all because of weather, many people are just putting things off because of the economy. I can't survive 3 months with 5 days work, nor can anyone and I truly feel the self employed are being short changed with the current eligibility criteria.

There is hope and an easy solution ready to be acted on by Parliament.

Under the current EI Act,
Regulations to include persons in business
(5) The Commission may, with the approval of the Governor in Council and subject to affirmative resolution of Parliament, make regulations for including in insurable employment the business activities of a person who is engaged in a business, as defined in subsection 248(1) of the Income Tax Act.

Currently there is a segregated group of "self employed' who do have access to EI. That's the fisherpersons, who have been deemed eligilible since 1972.

Currently 15% of Canada's workforce are self employed, and many are struggling like myself to make ends meet, feed their families and pay their bills!

There is also Charter of Rights and Freedoms issues regarding equality for all Canadians. I won't quote the section as I expect you are fully knowledgeable on the Charter.

During the last election, Sept.16th to be exact, Stephen Harper made a campaign promise ( see link below)to open up the EI Fund eligibility to the self employed. While researching for this email I found in the fine print that this change was directed at the women vote and the changes would only benefit self employed women so they could received maternity benefits. Well self employed men don't make babies so where's the equality in that, and the promise seems to have slipped from Mr. Harpers agenda for now.

I would request that you bring this shortcoming to equality under the EI Act forward. Specifically forward prior to January 27th Budget.
In my way of thinking, as I am a Canadian like you, those that choose to opt in be required to pay into the fund, maybe somewhere between Employee and Employer amounts, most self employed couldn't afford both.
In closing I would like to tell you that I did a live interview on CBC Compass, PEI's evening news, I have started a Facebook group, called EI for the Self Employed ( link below) and membership is growing since launching it Tuesday evening. Take a look, I'll gladly add you and be pleased if you comment.

I am currently waiting to do a couple of print interviews which will be posted on CP and CBC PEI is distributing the story they did nationwide, so that's your heads up I guess.
In closing all I ask is that you seriously look at the current shortcomings in EI Eligibility and use your best efforts to assist the 15% of Canadians that deserve equality under the EI program. It can be done and done quickly so as to protect a large portion of the Canadian workforce in the coming tough times ahead.

Facebook Group link http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=49008511921#/topic.php?uid=49008511921&topic=12189

Mr. harpers Campaign promise http://www.nowpublic.com/world/harper-campaign-promise-open-ei-program-self-employed

My email is chopkins@pei.sympatico.ca, phone 902-969-8569 Be great to hear from you!

Regards with Sincerity

Chris Hopkins
Montague, PEI

So if you're interested in this action to get access to the EI Fund for the Self Employed check out the links, add a comment here, join the Facebook group and help move this along