Photo by Whitehorse Star
Gary Brown
Yukoners drawing EI rose sharply
The number of Yukoners receiving employment insurance benefits more than doubled when comparing November 2019 to November 2020, according to Statistics Canada.
The number of Yukoners receiving employment insurance benefits more than doubled when comparing November 2019 to November 2020, according to Statistics Canada.
The monthly report released last week by the Yukon Bureau of Statistics says Statistics Canada estimates there were 1,260 men and women of all ages receiving benefits in November 2020, compared to 600 in November 2019, representing an increase of 110 per cent.
Numbers nationally show the number of Canadians receiving EI benefits almost tripled, from 455,670 in November 2019 to 1,307,170 in November 2020.
In the Yukon, the number of men collecting benefits climbed from 390 to 790 from November 2019 to November 2020.
The number of women collecting went from 200 to 470 in the same period, according to the monthly report.
Statistically, the age group between 15 and 24 years old was hit the hardest, with the number of youth collecting EI climbing from 60 to 140, representing a November-to-November increase of 133 per cent.
In the 25 to 54 category, the numbers climbed from 380 to 810, while the 55-plus category saw an increase from 150 to 320.
Bureau analyst Gary Brown said the unemployment numbers include Yukoners who were transferred to the EI program from the Canada Emergency Response Benefit in the fall.
They do not include anyone continuing to collect benefits under other federal programs established in response to the COVID-19, he said.
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Comments (9)
Up 1 Down 6
TheHammer on Jan 27, 2021 at 7:23 pm
EI is an excellent program, especially for poets, mystics, and yogis. Seasonal work is a mainstay of the Canadian economy and this work force needs to be protected.
Capitalist society needs a pool of unemployed labor to draw upon, even when that labor has to be imported.
Up 10 Down 1
to edie rue on Jan 26, 2021 at 8:28 pm
Government workers. The public sector didn't see a drop in pay during covid and have only expanded. More of them = more people buying $500,000 homes
Pretty simple.
Up 13 Down 4
Juniper Jackson on Jan 26, 2021 at 12:48 pm
EI pays a minimum now, 400-500 a week, and you only have to work, 3 weeks now
'A minimum unemployment rate of 13.1% applies to all regions across Canada starting August 9, 2020
If your region’s unemployment rate is higher than 13.1%, we’ll use the higher actual rate to calculate your benefits
This means you can receive at least 26 weeks of regular benefits
You only need 120 insured hours to qualify for benefits because you’ll get a one-time credit of 300 insured hours to help you meet the required 420 insured hours of work
You’ll receive at least $500 per week before taxes but you could receive more"
So.. it doesn't matter how much you earned really, its the hours. For 500. a week. Who in their right mind, (unless its a govvie job) is going to buy work clothing, car, insurance, babysitting, to go out in this cold for the $9 an hour or so that you get on a $15 an hour job once the deductions are out? Plus.. they talk about the big senior population here... but, there are 45,000 that are NOT seniors.
We have the highest per capita drug consumption in Canada, "In the Legislative Assembly on Thursday, Minister John Streicker said Yukoners bought more than $9 million worth of legal cannabis between October 2018 and the end of August 2020. Streicker said those figures show legalization has been a success." So THAT'S what's the matter with Streicker! A success? no..it shows that there are an awful lot of stoners in the Yukon. At $2,000. MINIMUM a month, who is going to work? And yeah..I agree with another posters, how much have booze sales increased? Personally? I like to work. Get dressed up, go out into the world to see people. It makes my quiet home a pleasure to go to, not a prison I am locked up in. And.. pride. I like to pay my way. I also agree with another poster..the gravy train is going to end.
Up 8 Down 7
Wilf Carter on Jan 26, 2021 at 12:22 pm
I was talking to a Yukoner who works in Alberta oil patch and was told about all the Yukoners who work there and now they are out of a job. No wonder our UIC is going up. I was shocked and was told not give it out because he is a liberal supporter. There are First Nations working in the oil patch also and one told me he was looking forward to this pipeline because it asured him work for 4 years.
Up 13 Down 9
Larry Liberal on Jan 26, 2021 at 6:10 am
Never worry never fear, when you want some insurance the Liberals are here!
Up 21 Down 0
Edie rue on Jan 25, 2021 at 7:45 pm
I feeling confused these days. I see businesses losing money, businesses closing, people getting laid off, and this story confirms it. Yet, the Yukon housing market is off the charts. Like, $50,000 over asking on average. That means the buyer has $50,000 cash in the bank, over and above the down payment because the bank won’t mortgage the extra money. So please, someone tell me what’s going on, please!!!
Up 17 Down 4
Dick on Jan 25, 2021 at 4:31 pm
Yea well it was a free ride. First CERB, then if You did not want to work a ten month U.I. stint. Chaa, Ching. Ask Yukon Liquor Corp how sales are. Sorry but in the community I am in better than fifty percent of the population is drawing. All this needs more scrutiny and those abusers made to pay dearly.
Up 19 Down 3
Matthew on Jan 25, 2021 at 4:13 pm
Well.. that IS what happens when stores are forced to close because entire world is scared of catching 2019s new flu.. it's just the beginning sadly, just wait for the upcoming market crash.
Up 9 Down 29
JSmonk on Jan 25, 2021 at 2:28 pm
Time for everyone to receive UBI.