Harper dodges questions over bonuses for government workers who meet EI fraud targets

Prime Minister Stephen Harper dodged questions in the House of Commons Tuesday over whether the government is handing out bonuses to managers who catch Canadians committing employment insurance fraud.

The Harper government is under opposition fire amid a crackdown on EI claimants that includes sending government inspectors to people’s homes and establishing annual dollar quotas for EI investigators — two practices that only came to light after media investigations.

Montreal newspaper Le Devoir published government documents on Monday that showed the annual “target” of $485,000 for EI investigators, which Human Resources Minister Diane Finley said is different than a quota.

On Monday, Finley noted that employees who don’t reach their targets or objectives do not face “negative consequences.”

“For the first time inspectors are going out to talk to Canadians with respect to Employment Insurance, whether or not they have any reason to believe that there has been any instance of fraud or of misleading in the case of the person they are interviewing,” interim Liberal leader Bob Rae said during Question Period.

“Can the Prime Minister confirm that in fact managers will be receiving bonuses depending on the performance of those agents?”

In response, Harper said it is the government’s legal responsibility to take “all necessary steps” to ensure those who are entitled to get them the money receive it.

“When people who are not entitled to get the money get the money, the only losers are the unemployed and the workers who paid in and we are determined to protect them,” he said.

The Tory government went ahead with sweeping reforms to the Employment Insurance program earlier this year, despite heated opposition from unions and politicians from eastern Canada. The new rules are stricter and more complex, and are intended to cut down on fraud and get Canadians back to work sooner.

NDP leader Tom Mulcair said government programs require monitoring but that the Tories’ crackdown is unprecedented.

“What we’re doing this year is something we’ve that’s never been seen before. You’ve seen whole villages like Tracadie-Sheila in the Acadian Peninsula,” Mulcair told CBC’s Power & Politics.

“There are no jobs to be had outside of the seasonal employment in those areas and yet, in front of all your neighbours, they’re knocking on your door.”

Rae went further on Tuesday to criticize Harper in the House over increased advertising spending despite cuts to front-line services, foreign aid programs and foreign affairs budgets.

“The Department of Finance is increasing its advertising budget by nearly $7-million,” he said. “I’d like to ask the Prime Minister: How can he justify again this double standard where front-line services are being cut but propaganda is being increased?”

Front-line services are not being cut, Harper said.

“What is being done, Mr. Speaker, is ensuring that the people of Canada are aware of the programs and services that are available to them.”

Original Article
Source: nationalpost.com
Author: Allison Cross