Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-hc48f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T21:56:45.217Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Unemployment Insurance in Canada: The Problem of Conflicting Principles

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 November 2014

James P. Cairns
James P. Cairns*
Affiliation:
Royal Military College
Get access

Abstract

An abstract is not available for this content so a preview has been provided. Please use the Get access link above for information on how to access this content.
Image of the first page of this content. For PDF version, please use the ‘Save PDF’ preceeding this image.'
Type
Notes and Memoranda
Information
Canadian Journal of Economics and Political Science/Revue canadienne de economiques et science politique , Volume 28 , Issue 2 , May 1962 , pp. 262 - 268
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Political Science Association 1962

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1 Nineteenth Annual Report, Fiscal Year ending March 31, 1960 (Ottawa: Unemployment Insurance Commission, 1960), 24, 26.Google Scholar

2 See Special Report of the Unemployment Insurance Advisory Committee resulting from meeting, October 27, 1960, in the Labour Gazette, Feb., 1961. “The increase in contribution rates [on Sept. 27, 1959] was based on the Actuary's report and the theory upon which the actuarial calculations were made was that the level of employment for the five years 1959 to 1963 inclusive would equal the average level of the rive years ended March 31, 1958. This theory up to the present has proved to be far too optimistic [and hence the continuing post-contribution-rate-increase decline in the assets of the fund].” (125)

3 Apart from any other revenues—government contribution, interest on assets—that may be forthcoming.

4 It may be pointed out that the Unemployment Insurance Act makes it clear that the main concern of the Unemployment Insurance Advisory Committee must be the “financial condition of the fund” and its ability to “discharge its liabilities.” See Unemployment Insurance Act, Office Consolidation with Notes and Index, issued by Unemployment Insurance Commission, Sept., 1959, especially para. 89.

5 It should be stressed that the Unemployment Insurance Advisory Committee has consistently urged other methods of replenishing the fund. The government was urged to make good the drain on the fund occasioned by the increase in the seasonal benefit period and the extension of coverage to fishermen. In addition, the Committee has proposed that the government contribution be increased from one-fifth to one-half the total contribution by employers and employees. See the Labour Gazette, 02, 1961, 125.Google Scholar

6 In June, 1961, however, an unemployment rate of 5.6 per cent was associated with an excess of benefits over contributions of $4 million.