Federal finance minister expected to announce EI premium cuts
by The Canadian Press
Business groups have been calling for cut, saying higher premiums make it more difficult to hire new workers
TORONTO—Finance Minister Joe Oliver is expected to announce that he will lower employment insurance (EI) premiums.
Oliver is holding a news conference Sept. 11 at 11 a.m. in Toronto at a flooring company, where he will announce measures to help small businesses.
The Globe and Mail has reported that the Harper government will make the EI premium announcement—effective Jan. 1, 2015—is an effort to stimulate hiring.
The Globe quotes a senior government official as saying that the cut will be “significant” and will be called the Small Business Job Credit.
The federal government announced last year that it would freeze premiums for the next three years, saying that the program’s finances were improving.
Business groups have been calling for a cut, saying that higher premiums make it more difficult to hire new workers.
