To all Chairpersons and Members of Employment Insurance Boards of Referees (Updated March 2012)

Subject: Extension of three Employment Insurance pilot projects to support unemployed Canadians

On October 12, 2010 in Charlottetown, the Honourable Gail Shea announced that the Government of Canada is extending three Employment Insurance (EI) pilot projects to help Canadians through the economic recovery.

Here are the three pilot projects concerned by the announcement:

• Working While on Claim pilot project allows EI claimants to earn a higher amount of allowable earnings (the greater of $75 per week or 40% of the weekly benefit rate) while receiving EI benefits. This Pilot Project applies in respect of every claimant whose benefit period is established or ends in the period beginning on December 7, 2008 and ending on August 6, 2011. (Extended until August 4, 2012)
  
  
• Best 14 Weeks pilot project calculates EI benefits based on the highest 14 weeks of earnings over the year preceding a claim. This pilot project applies to all claimants ordinarily residing in a region described in Schedule II.8 Employment Insurance Regulations, whose benefit period is established between October 25, 2005 and June 25, 2011 with the exception of fishing claims. (Extended until June 23, 2012)
  
  
• Extended EI Benefits pilot project, will provide up to 5 additionnal weeks of benefit to all claimants, ordinarily residing in one of the 21 regions described in Schedule II.6 Employment Insurance Regulations, whose benefit period begins between September 12, 2010 and ends at the latest on September 15, 2012*.
  
  *If the unemployment rate in any specific EI economic region remains below 8% for 12 consecutive months the pilot project will end in that particular region.
  
  Pilot project terminated in St. Johns (Newfoundland) on September 24, 2011
  
  Pilot project terminated in Chicoutimi-Jonquière (Québec) on March 24, 2012