EI premiums unchanged, but concerns over Bill 23

Good news for employers as Employment Insurance premiums for 2021 and 2022 are being frozen at the 2020 level. The federal government made the announcement this week. The maximum insurable earnings are going up by $1,100 next year to $56,300.
 
Self-employed Canadians who opt into the EI program will be required to earn $7,555 to file a claim in 2021.
 
As the economy recovers, governments can't burden businesses with added costs such as increased premiums. The Chamber is working with our advocacy partners to make sure the provincial government understands this when it comes to WorkSafeBC premiums.
 
Recent changes to the Workers Compensation Act (Bill 23) are problematic because they make it easier for employees to make a compensation claim if they contract COVID-19 with little to no burden of proof that it was work related. The goal of reducing the risk is good, but the concern is that it will unfairly drive up costs and increase premiums shifting public healthcare costs to employers.