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This enactment makes a number of amendments to the Employment
Insurance Act.
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Specifically, it
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(a) changes the name of the Act back to its original name;
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(b) specifies certain payments that are excluded from earnings;
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(c) allows benefits to continue while a claimant is on training to
improve employability;
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(d) cancels the waiting period;
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(e) includes dependent contractors;
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(f) alters the duration of benefits;
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(g) changes the added benefits respecting local unemployment;
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(h) provides additional benefits for permanent layoff;
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(i) creates a separate Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund to replace
the present Employment Insurance Account, which is a part of the
Consolidated Revenue Fund;
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(j) replaces the present Commission with an independent
Commission to be the trustee of the Fund and the administrator of the
Act;
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(k) removes the different status of re-entrants and new entrants;
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(l) places the burden of proof on the Commission to prove ``arm's
length'' status and ``just cause for leaving a job'';
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(m) ensures that every office and telephone access point that delivers
services under the Act has an HRDC representative available;
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(n) ensures that every office has a claimant's advocate;
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(o) limits to 8 weeks the loss of benefits from voluntary leaving or
dismissal for just cause;
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(p) allows employees to receive every year up to 5 weeks of training
directed at career development; and
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(q) specifies that no interest is payable by a claimant in certain
circumstances.
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