Backgrounder: Canada Employment Insurance Commission

The Canada Employment Insurance Commission (CEIC) plays a key role in overseeing the Employment Insurance (EI) program, reviewing and approving policies related to program administration and delivery. EI program operations are carried out—on behalf of the CEIC—by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), which also includes Service Canada. As well, the CEIC makes regulations under the authority of the Employment Insurance Act, with the approval of the Governor in Council.

The CEIC also has the legislated mandate to monitor and assess the EI program annually. To do this, the CEIC oversees a research agenda that supports the preparation of its annual Employment Insurance Monitoring and Assessment Report. At the end of each fiscal year, the CEIC presents the report to the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, who then tables it in Parliament.

In another key role, the CEIC contributes to the financial transparency of the EI system. Each year, it commissions an EI premium report from the Chief Actuary, prepares a summary report and conveys both reports to the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion and the Minister of Finance, also for tabling in Parliament. The CEIC also sets the annual maximum insurable earnings and the EI premium rate, according to legislative requirements.

The CEIC advises which EI appeal decisions will be submitted for judicial review by the Federal Court of Appeal. Additionally, the two Commissioners, the Commissioner for Workers and the Commissioner for Employers, serve in a tripartite committee with the Chair of the Social Security Tribunal. The Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion consults this committee before recommending to the Governor in Council any person to be appointed as a member of the Social Security Tribunal who may hear matters in the EI Section.

The CEIC has four members, three of whom are voting members, representing the interests of workers, employers and government. They have responsibilities to represent and reflect the views of their respective constituencies, reflecting internally, within ESDC, the concerns and positions of workers and employers on policy development and program delivery related to EI and the labour market. To do this, they establish working relationships and engage in consultations with private-sector organizations and individuals interested in and affected by ESDC programs and services, particularly with regard to EI. The Deputy Minister of Employment and Social Development represents government and acts as the Chairperson of the CEIC, while the Senior Associate Deputy Minister of Employment and Social Development acts as the Vice-Chairperson and has voting privileges only when acting on behalf of the Chairperson.