Parishioners in Canada’s four east-coast provinces received a pastoral letter from Atlantic Episcopal Assembly president Bishop Claude Champagne calling for EI changes to be put on hold and rethought at Ascension Sunday Masses, May 12.
“We believe that it is important for you to be treated with respect, and that you not be submitted to unrealistic regulations to qualify for assistance when it is needed,” wrote Champagne on behalf of bishops of the 11 Atlantic dioceses.
The bishops are not telling the government what to do and they don’t claim any expertise in economic and social policy, Champagne told The Catholic Register.
“It’s not addressed to the government as such,” Champagne said. “We have written to our people.”
“As pastoral leaders, we cannot ignore the hardships and consequences of these changes on members of our churches and on our fellow citizens,” the letter reads.
The bishops do, however, point out that there has been no study of the economic or social impacts of new regulations that require EI recipients to widen their job searches to any job for which they are qualified — even if it means a pay cut.
The media relations office of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada refused to answer questions about economic impact studies for the new EI regulations.
“EI claimants will not be expected to take jobs for which they are not suited or which are unreasonable based on their personal circumstances,” HRSD media relations told The Catholic Register in an e-mail. “We are promoting work force attachment and participation, therefore lowering reliance on EI or other forms of income support.”
The bishops acknowledge that the EI system needs to be protected from abuse, but argue that the changes will have disproportionate and disastrous effect on small rural communities and families.
“Is the solution for people here just to move to northern Alberta?” Champagne asked.
A labour market that pulls married couples apart in the name of mobility and labour market flexibility puts Maritimers in a very difficult position, he said.
But HRSD claims it is not attacking families when it requires EI recipients to take jobs as much as 100 kilometres from home.
“There is no requirement to move, leave a community or split families in order to find work,” HRSD said.
The new regulations simply clarify the longstanding requirement for EI recipients to continue looking for work while they receive EI, said HRSD.
“We have clarified when and how claimants need to expand their job search.”
The reality of seasonal work is deeply ingrained into both the culture and economy of Atlantic Canada, said Champagne.
“The present policy’s priorities, it seems to us, should be more focused on the needs of persons than on the need to cut government costs on the backs of the most vulnerable in our area,” reads the pastoral letter.
To read the full text of the Atlantic bishops’ letter go to: www. cccb.ca.