LIBERAL VOW TO BLOCK UNVAXXED FROM EI NOT FOOLPROOF

Internal government documents show that the Liberals’ pledge to prevent unvaccinated people from accessing jobless benefits didn’t eliminate all avenues for them to enter the employment insurance system. The briefing notes prepared for Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough say that unvaccinated workers could qualify for EI sickness benefits, even if they are sick with COVID-19. The laws guiding the social safety net program don’t have any explicit rules around eligibility for EI for anyone who refused to get vaccinated. While Qualtrough was told the government could put rules around regular jobless benefits, officials suggested the same couldn’t be said of sickness benefits. The details are contained in documents obtained under the Access to Information Act.