This is a federal government issue, but one I get questions about. There are two Employment Insurance (EI) regions on PEI, and they have different “characteristics” based on their different unemployment rates (for period Feb 12, 2017 to Mar 11, 2017 below):
- Charlottetown (7.6% unemployment rate)
- Prince Edward Island (13.3% unemployment rate)
Here is the link on the Federal government site where you can input out postal code (e.g. C0A 1N0) to see the breakdown for your area.
http://srv129.services.gc.ca/eiregions/eng/postalcode_search.aspx
My MP’s office said that if a postal code contains two different EI regions – which C0A 1N0 does – then the region with the highest unemployment rate applies. However, for Lot 23 search results which include where I live in New Glasgow (see Lot 23 on Google Maps), it is the Charlottetown EI region that is returned. If you are in this situation, I recommend you contact your local MP’s office to clarify. In Malpeque MP Wayne Easter’s office can be contacted at:
902.964.2428
wayne.easter@parl.gc.ca
4283 Rte 13, Unit 1
Hunter River, PE C0A 1N0
Here is a comparison between the two regions on PEI. Obviously it is easier for people to qualify for benefits in the PEI EI region where one needs 420 hours as compared to Charlottetown EI region’s 630 hours.
Number of Insured Hours Required to Qualify for Regular Benefits
630 – Charlottetown
420 – PEI
Minimum Number of Weeks Payable for Regular Benefits
17 – Charlottetown
26 – PEI
Maximum Number of Weeks Payable for Regular Benefits
40 – Charlottetown
45 – PEI
Number of Best Weeks Required for Benefit Calculation
20 – Charlottetown
14 – PEI
I have tried getting an answer from Wayne Easter’s office (since 2014), with limited success. I was basically told we would have to wait and see what happens. Sean Casey thought things were going to be able to be reversed but that is not the case.
First, let me say that this has no effect on me. I have a job and am not collecting EI.
My question is with the map that has Lot 23 included as a part of urban Charlottetown. The people who reside in Lot 23 have to drive through rural Hunter River or rural North Rustico in order to get to Charlottetown. How can they be considered part of Charlottetown if they have to drive through rural areas to get to Charlottetown???
The population of “urban” Lot 23 is less than that of “rural” Lot 24. Then there is the fact that SUMMERSIDE is considered rural … Summerside, really? Are you seriously trying to tell me that the people of Summerside have a more difficult time finding work close to home than the people who live on farms in Glasgow Hills, Toronto, Mayfield and New Glasgow? Have you driven those unsalted roads in the winter Ms. Shea? The roads are plowed only AFTER the main roads (e.g. Rte 2 in Hunter River) are plowed – and they are not salted like Rte 2 in “rural” Hunter River.
Like I said earlier, I am not collecting EI and this does not affect me personally, but these are just a couple of the many, many questions that I have regarding this new so-called “fair” EI system.