For Immediate Release
January 3, 2012
The New Democratic Party of PEI has written to the Premier, Leader of the Official Opposition and the Federal Minister of National Revenue over concerns regarding unacceptable Employment Insurance wait times.
James Rodd, leader of the NDP PEI states “It has been widely reported that Islanders in some cases are waiting in excess of 6 weeks and in some instances over 3 months for their applications to be processed. This is totally unacceptable.”
Rodd says “The Federal Government’s refusal to approve overtime at Service Canada, along with its decision to not hire extra temporary staff at what is traditionally a peak time is leaving many Islanders facing financial hardship. Cases have been reported where individuals have had to seek loans, at personal cost, in order to make ends meet, while others have had to forego medication, as food and heating have to take priority.”
At previous peak times, the Federal Government has hired extra staff and allowed overtime in order to ensure applications are processed within a reasonable amount of time. In the case of the Montague Service Centre, often within 28 days.
The NDP PEI has asked the Premier “…what steps have been taken by the Provincial Government in questioning the delays in EI application processing and what actions are being taken to ensure that Islanders do not suffer unnecessary hardship.”
Rodd has encouraged the Provincial Government and the Official Opposition to join the NDP in condemning the actions of the Federal Government. We have also asked Minister Shea to work for Islanders by calling upon Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development to return to previous practices in order to process applications within an acceptable timeframe.
The NDP has asked to meet with the Premier, the Official Opposition and Minister Shea. To date no response has been received.
