EI Monitoring and Assessment Report 2012/13 Annex 3 - EBSMs Data Tables

Eligibility for Employment Benefits and Support Measures (EBSMs) or Similar Programs Funded Under Part II

To be eligible for Employment Benefits, individuals must be unemployed and have a current Employment Insurance (EI) claim as an “active EI client” or a claim that ended in the preceding three years as a “former EI client.” Those who began a maternity or parental claim in the preceding five years, after which they left the labour market to care for their newborn or newly adopted children, also qualify as former EI clients and are eligible for Employment Benefits upon re-entry into the labour market. Unemployed individuals who are neither active nor former EI clients are considered “non-insured” and are eligible to participate in Employment Assistance Services, as well as self-services provided by the National Employment Service.

Labour Market Development Agreements (LMDAs)

LMDAs provide the frameworks within which EBSM delivery takes place. EBSMs are flexible by design, allowing provincial and territorial jurisdictions (P/Ts) to develop and deliver programs that respond to local and regional labour market needs. With the implementation of the Canada-Yukon LMDA on February 1, 2010, all provinces and territories are now fully responsible for the design and delivery of programs similar to EBSMs established under Part II of the EI Act. In support of these activities, Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) transfers LMDA funding to the provinces and territories and focuses on accountability, evaluation and ongoing policy development. ESDC also delivers pan-Canadian programming and maintains, in partnership with P/Ts, specific projects and activities in the national interest under Part II of the EI Act. Canada retains responsibility for the delivery of insurance benefits under Part I of the EI Act and for the aspects of labour market development reflective of national interests. For more information on LMDAs, please refer to Labour Market Agreements.

Apprentices

Apprentices are paid by their employer during periods of practical training. During the classroom portion of their training, apprentices are eligible for regular benefits under Part I of the EI Act. The apprentice requires a referral under the authority of section 25 of the EI Act to access these benefits. Depending on the regional and local priorities of the province or territory, the apprentice may receive EI Part II support to cover classroom-related expenses.

Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training Strategy (ASETS)

ESDC negotiates agreements with Aboriginal organizations to design and deliver employment programs and services for Aboriginal people at the community level. The Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training Strategy (ASETS) is the successor to the Aboriginal Human Resources Development Strategy (AHRDS), which expired on March 31, 2010.

The sunsetting of AHRDS and the modernization of ESDC's Aboriginal labour market programming—through ASETS—coincides with ESDC’s process of modernizing the administration of grants and contributions. The ASETS advances labour market outcomes for First Nations, Métis and Inuit via demand-driven skills development, strategic partnerships with P/Ts and the private sector, and increased accountability. It also supports the development of a skilled Aboriginal workforce, which is one of the Aboriginal Economic Development Framework’s objectives.

Job Bank

Job Bank is an Internet service that helps connect employers and workers. It is the largest web-based network of job advertisements across Canada and is available to Canadian employers and job seekers free of charge. See Job Bank.

Employment Benefits

Targeted Wage Subsidies help insured participants obtain on-the-job work experience by providing employers with financial assistance toward the wages of participants. This benefit encourages employers to hire unemployed individuals whom they would not normally hire in the absence of a subsidy.

Self-Employment provides financial assistance and business planning advice to EI-eligible participants to help them start their own business. This financial assistance is intended to cover personal living expenses and other expenses during the initial stages of the business.

Job Creation Partnerships projects provide insured participants with opportunities to gain work experience that will lead to ongoing employment. Activities of the project help develop the community and the local economy.

Skills Development helps insured participants obtain employment skills by giving them direct financial assistance that enables them to select, arrange for and pay for their own training.

Targeted Earnings Supplements encourage unemployed persons to accept employment by offering them financial incentives. Quebec offers a similar measure—Return to Work Supplement—to help with expenses related to returning to work (for example, new tools, office materials or clothing).

Support Measures

Employment Assistance Services provide funding to organizations to enable them to provide employment assistance to unemployed persons. The services provided may include individual counselling, action planning, help with job search skills, job-finding clubs, job placement services, the provision of labour market information, and case management and follow-up.

Labour Market Partnerships provide funding to help employers, employee and employer associations, and communities improve their capacity to deal with human resource requirements and implement labour force adjustments. These partnerships involve developing plans and strategies, and implementing adjustment measures.

Research and Innovation supports activities that identify better ways of helping people prepare for or keep employment and be productive participants in the labour force. Funds are provided to eligible recipients to enable them to carry out demonstration projects and research for this purpose.