Do you happen to know who paid for those hardhats?

Will we get the usual 10percenters from our non-frugal, 24/7 partisan CON team again, this time spinning the shovel-ready, and non-shovel-readiness of the opposition? I hear the 10percenters are in the mail already.

And I'm certain that the 10 Percenters sent out by the other parties are shining beacons of impartiality and benevolent felicity.....

Slightly off-topic, David. They were saying on TV this afternoon that it is going to take 2 - 3 months for the budget bill to get through the House, and that in fact it has not even gone to committee yet.

If you have time, could you please explain what is causing the delay and how the timeline plays out.

Many thanks.

Well if it isn't going to committee for a couple of months, what are the hard-hats for - photo-ops? Oh silly me, smack me upside down the head - it's show time!
Maybe they can take some photo-ops with line-ups at EI joints - sure there's lots of Canadians milling about.

I asked a couple of these questions under another thread, and I'm still not sure of the answers, so forgive me for repeating them.
I’ve been fortunate in never needing to draw from the UI/EI program (even though I was eligible), so I'm not too sure about the rules.
• Don’t workers get at least two weeks’ pay upon termination?
• Wouldn't that tide the recently-unemployed over until EI kicks in?
• If so, isn’t the extension of five weeks at the other end better for those in that situation?
• Are re-training programs offered to the recently-unemployed, and if so, do they get EI benefits while receiving that re-training?

Let me see if I can help you Gabby,

Two weeks pay is dependent on the company, what agreement you were hired under and why you were terminated. It is considered income so it will actually prevent you from getting EI benefits because it will be allocated. The two week waiting period was put in to prevent people from receiving benefits for a short term job interruption.

The extension of 5 weeks at the end will allow people to stay on benefits longer, which is good in this economy where more jobs are being lost and not a lot of hiring being created.

Re-training programs are available but be sure to check with EI before you sign up for a course. They want to give you and your course approval otherwise they can deny benefits while you are in school. Recently unemployed can qualify and if approved they could provide you with benefits while you are in school.

To everyone who is suddenly finding themselves unemployed...don't wait to apply for EI benefits. Even if you haven't received your ROE, get down to service Canada and apply. If you have received a severance package don't wait for the money to run out before you apply, apply now and get a file number.