Increased EI premiums: the fight is not over!

In 2010, CFIB launched an Employment Insurance (EI) premiums campaign, one of the most comprehensive lobbying campaigns in our history. Though we celebrated a success for 2011, we knew that the battle was not done. We have collected tens of thousands of Action Alerts from members – over 15,000 petitions were sent to federal MPs last fall and another 7,000 have been collected since then – expressing their concern on increasing EI rates by 10 cents for employees and 14 cents for employers per $100 in payroll this year. After our call for a freeze, the federal government opted for a more modest rate increase of 5 cents and 7 cents. This will leave more money in Canadians’ pockets.

But the fight is not over!

CFIB is still pushing for the renewal of the EI Hiring Credit into 2012.

We will continue our fierce EI lobbying efforts including:

  • Meeting with MPs
  • Collecting petition signatures from employers
  • Updating you via our EI Facebook page, YouTube videos and CFIB Twitter account

To send your message to Ottawa, fill out our EI Action Alert and send it to CFIB.

"Over 68 per cent of CFIB’s small business members said the most effec“Over 68 per cent of CFIB’s small business members said the most effective tax measure during a period of economic uncertainty is a freeze on EI premiums.” “It is clear Finance Minister Flaherty has heard the concerns of Canada's entrepreneurs by taking action to lower the planned EI hike" – Dan Kelly, CFIB
  • "Please help up to curtail these unnecessary increases in EI premiums. We wonder when we will have more reasonable taxes."

  • "This is an irresponsible move by this government. Everyone knew that the ei premium budget was depleting with the exponential growth of baby boomers retiring. 30 years ago, there was 6 people working for every person retiring. Now, there are only 2 people working for every person retiring. Why are they fixing this problem only now? Where is the transparency into government spending? I am sure we would find a surprise or two. This is poor public policy and only creates mistrust."

  • "I can't believe they want to increase the E.I. Aren,t those of us who are working paying enough already? Give us a break for a change. We are barely getting by as it is."

  • "It wasn’t that long ago that EI had such a surplus of funds they didn’t know what to do with the cash! While I realize that we have steered through a recession, I find it hard to believe that 9 months of recession can place the fund in such dire straights – what happened to the cash?"

  • "First HST, then unfair 'environmental' taxes imposed without proper notice, now the EI tax grab...All of this at a time when Canadians and Canadian business are struggling financially/economically. Outrageous. Please list myself and my organization as ardent opposition to the government's plan to increase EI premiums. We support CFIB in this endevour and thank CFIB for bringing this to our attention as a member."

  • "As a small business owner, I cannot tolerate anymore additional costs, and my employees will not tolerate more deductions, due to increases in EI rates."

  • "EI has drifted far from its mandate and lost its focus as well as accountability to those who fund the program. It has evolved into simply another general revenue tax that unfairly penalizes businesses and does not serve the public effectively or efficiently."

  • "We, as small business owners, support all efforts to prevent the increase in EI premiums. Small business is being picked to death by premiums and taxes. I hope we can all stick together and let government know that small business cannot continue to be hit with more charges."

  • "Do not let the government increase EI premiums after they have taken the overpayment into general revenue for years."
Stop the EI tax grab!

How this will affect you
 
Download a copy of the Action Alert: Don’t Increase EI Rates Download a copy of the Action Alert: Don’t Increase EI Rates
Letter to federal MPs
More information on EI More information on EI

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