Entrepreneurs urging feds make changes to EI program

With changes to the federal Employment Insurance (EI) program a possibility, entrepreneurs are urging policymakers to consider the needs of small employers who have struggled to keep their doors open during the pandemic.

According to a report from the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses (CFIB), 84 per cent of entrepreneurs want to see a 50:50 split between employers and employees when it comes to EI premiums.

Additionally, 91 per cent of entrepreneurs would welcome measures such as refunding over-contributions, which currently are added to the EI account instead of being returned to entrepreneurs (which is the case for employees).

“Many small businesses are facing significant financial and cash flow issues due to the ongoing pandemic,” Corinne Pohlmann, senior vice-president of national affairs with CFIB, said in a news release.

“As the government prepares to release the budget next week, business owners are worried that funding any new programs, or making the EI system more generous, will add significant costs in the form of EI premium increases, especially as they continue to pay 1.4 times the employee rate,” he continued.