Today Statistics Canada released preliminary results of Employment Insurance (EI) statistics for September 2009.  The statistics show an increase of 54,250 compared with August 2009. This is the first monthly increase following two monthly decreases in a row. 

Canada's Economic Action Plan is helping workers and their families get through the global economic downturn:

• Extra 5 weeks of EI regular benefits has helped over 365,000 Canadian while they search for new employment;
• Enhanced work-sharing program is protecting the jobs of over 165,000 Canadians;
• Unprecedented investments in training are helping Canadians receive the skills training they need to enter a new career;
• Froze EI premiums for 2 years which helps employers to maintain and create jobs and lets workers keep more of their hard-earned money when they need it most;
• Additional $60 million investment in the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers to help older workers who have invaluable knowledge and mentoring potential transition into a new job;
• Investments to ensure that Canadians get benefits in timely manner.

We have also made improvements to the EI system in addition to those included in our Economic Action Plan:

• Recently passed legislation to provide 5 to 20 additional week of EI support to long-tenured workers who have worked hard and paid-premiums for years while they transition into a new job;
• Recently introduced legislation to provide self-employed Canadians access to EI special benefits on a voluntary basis for the first time in Canadian history so they no longer have to choose between their family and work responsibilities.

Our Conservative Government has taken concrete actions to help Canadians families weather the global economic downturn.