Bill C-56 passed the House of Commons this last week and was read for the first time in the Senate. The Bill amends the Employment Insurance Act and other Acts to establish a scheme to provide for the payment of special benefits to self-employed persons who are not currently entitled to receive them, including:
• maternity benefits, parental/adoptive benefits, sickness benefits, and compassionate care benefits.
Under the proposed legislation, self-employed Canadians would be required to opt into the program at least one year prior to claiming benefits. To access EI special benefits, self-employed individuals would need to have earned a minimum of $6,000 in self-employed earnings over the preceding calendar year.
(Source: CCA Weekly, Dec. 15/09)