Ottawa, ON  November 29, 2011- Today, Dick Harris Member of Parliament for Cariboo-Prince George, Chair of BC/Yukon Caucus and Chair of National Forest Caucus introduced his Private Members Bill C-316, An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act.

This enactment would repeal the provisions of the Employment Insurance Act that allows extended qualifying and benefit periods for convicted criminals because of confinement in a jail, penitentiary or other similar institutions.

“This bill is about ensuring that convicted felons are forced to live by the same rules as law abiding citizens”, said Harris.

At present to qualify for employment insurance benefits, a Canadian worker must have worked enough hours to qualify for benefits in the 52 weeks before their claim. The benefit period then lasts 52 weeks following the date of their claim. All benefits must be taken within this 52 week period. As it stands, convicted criminals can extend their qualifying period and benefits period by the time they were in prison up to 104 weeks.

“Those who have been incarcerated are receiving preferential treatment over hard working, law abiding citizens”, explained Harris.

Criminals who qualified for benefits before incarceration are allowed to extend their benefits by the number of weeks they were confined because they were unavailable for work during their confinement.

“Should a convicted felon, an individual found to have willfully committed a criminal act, be given preferential access to Employment Insurance benefits simply because they were confined to jail? I think the answer is clearly, no”, Harris concluded.