2003 November Report of the Auditor General of Canada

1971

Bill C-229

New Unemployment Insurance Act:

• Universal coverage
• 8 weeks entrance requirement
• 5-phase structure
• Sickness and maternity benefits

1974

Bill C-16

Greater flexibility for maternity benefits (from 8 weeks before to 17 weeks after)

1976

Bill C-69

• Maternity benefits reform
• Maximum age reduced from 70 to 65
• 3 to 6 weeks disqualification

1977

Bill C-27

• Variable entrance requirement introduced, 10 to 14 weeks
• Phases structure
• Provision for developmental uses of UI Funds

1978

Bill C-14

• Higher entrance requirements for new entrants/re-entrants and frequent claimants
• Benefit rate lowered from 66% to 60%
• Introduction of "benefit repayment provision"

1982

Severance pay ignored for benefits and insurability

1983

Bill C-156

• Removal of "magic-10" rule for maternity claimants
• Other type of benefits payable during maternity period
• Introduction of adoption benefits

1985

Earnings on separation taken into account for benefits and insurability

1986

Pension earnings deducted from benefits

1987

Bill C-50

• Qualifying and benefit periods extended for severance pay
• Requalification provisions for pensions

1988

Bill C-116

Paternity benefits for fathers introduced

1989

Supreme Court

Spousal employment ruled insurable

1990

Bill C-21

• One-phase structure
• Repeater rules repealed
• Variable entrance requirement increased, 10 to 20 weeks
• 7 to 12 weeks disqualification
• Parental benefits for biological and adoptive parents introduced
• 3-week special severance benefit removed
• Age 65 cut-off removed

1993

Bill C-113

• 7-12 weeks increased to full benefit period disqualification
• Benefit rate reduced to 57%
• Workforce reduction provisions introduced

1994

Bill C-17

• Benefit rates 55% or 60%
• Minimum variable entrance requirement increased 12 to 20
• Authority to run pilot projects

1996

Bill C-12

• Insurability on an hourly-based system and from first dollar
• Entrance requirement increased for new-entrants and re-entrants and for past fraud
• Maximum insurable earnings frozen to $39,000
• Maximum benefits reduced from $465 to $413
• Benefit rate 55% reduced gradually to 50% for repeat users
• Family Supplement rate up to 80%
• 26-week rate calculation period and divisor introduced
• Increased benefits repayment provisions
• Undeclared earnings provisions
• Employment support measures and labour market agreement introduced

1999

Report cards for maternity and paternity benefits waived

2000

Bill C-32

• Parental benefits increased from 10 to 35 weeks
• One waiting period for both parents
• 25% or $50 earnings applicable to parental benefits
• Entrance requirements reduced to 600 hours for special benefits

Bill C-2

• Intensity rule removed
• Benefits repayment provisions softened
• New look-back period for re-entrant parents

2001

Small weeks pilot project becomes permanent feature

2002

Bill C-49

• changes to the period for claiming special benefits and to the maximum number of combined weeks of special benefits

2003

Small weeks income threshold increased