Federal workers are now visiting employment insurance recipients at home, the prime minister confirmed Thursday in response to a report from The Canadian Press.
He said Human Resources Development Canada must ensure that money for EI is there for people who qualify.
He confirmed the report that public servants have been making unannounced visits since January as part of an examination being conducted while the EI program is overhauled.
During those visits federal employees have been hand-delivering questionnaires and requests for people to appear at their regular EI interviews.
Harper made the comment while in Saskatoon for an unrelated announcement.
About 1,200 EI beneficiaries will be receiving the visits, through the end of next month. A group of 50 federal civil servants have been assigned to make the house calls.
A federal workers' union representative has told The Canadian Press that she had already been concerned for government employees because of the controversy over EI changes.
From now on, people who frequently claim EI are expected to accept any job for which they're qualified, within 100 kilometres of home, as long as the pay is 70 per cent of their previous salary.
They must also prove they're actively seeking work.
Opponents say the plan is particularly harsh on Atlantic Canada and Quebec, which have a number of seasonal industries.
Original Article
Source: huffingtonpost.ca
Author: AP
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