Bill C-318

2nd Session, 40th Parliament,

57-58 Elizabeth II, 2009

house of commons of canada

BILL C-318

An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act (self-employed artists and authors)

Whereas self-employed artists and authors continue to be amongst the most underpaid members of the Canadian workforce;

Whereas self-employed artists and authors are generally unable to participate in national social benefit programs such as employment insurance and therefore cannot receive maternity, parental and sickness benefits and access to publicly funded training programs;

Whereas these limitations put a tremendous burden on these creative people at the heart of our national culture;

And whereas Parliament recognizes the importance of extending the application of the employment insurance scheme to self-employed artists and authors in order to increase their income and ensure that these valuable cultural workers improve their socio-economic conditions;

Now, therefore, Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:

1. Section 5 of the Employment Insurance Act is amended by adding the following after subsection (2):