2003 November Report of the Auditor General of Canada

November 2003 Report—Chapter 7

Exhibit 7.8—Example of lack of balance in effectiveness reporting

The monitoring and assessment reports (MARs) do not always reflect the key findings on program effectiveness, as is the case with the intensity rule.

What is the intensity rule?

The Employment Insurance reform introduced the intensity rule, which reduced the benefit rate by one percentage point for every 20 weeks of regular or fishing benefits collected in the past five years. The intensity rule was eliminated retroactive to 1 October 2000.

How is the evaluation of the intensity rule reported in the MAR?

An evaluation study "indicates the relatively small benefit reduction as a result of application of the intensity rule may not be discouraging frequent use of the program, particularly in areas where there are few job opportunities." (MAR 1999, p. 25)

What has the MAR omitted?

The MAR summary emphasizes the minimal economic impact noted in the study, but it omits that it was too early to measure the true impact of the change and that the evaluation study stated that there was some evidence of a behavioural response to the introduction of a rating system.

When were the full findings of the evaluation published?

This evaluation study was released 10 months after the publication of the MAR.