EI fraud bill tops $100M, but Ottawa drags heels

OTTAWA— The collection bill for money fraudulently claimed through the employment insurance program has surpassed $100 million, but the government doesn’t expect to collect the money any time soon.

Figures released to The Canadian Press show that debt collection is increasingly being pushed off to future years, even as the government appears to be more efficient at uncovering bad debts.

The figures show that in fiscal year 2013-14, which ended March 31, 2014, and are the most recent figures available, the department responsible for overseeing EI — Employment and Social Development Canada — watched the collection bill hit almost $102.7 million. That’s the amount the government aims to collect at some point over the next six years.

In fiscal year 2007-08, the second year of the Conservative government, the value of fraudulent claims the government expected to collect at some point in the future stood at just under $25.3 million, or about one quarter of what was expected in 2013-14. It’s unclear why the department is putting off more and more of its debt-collection efforts into the future. The department didn’t explain why, nor did the minister’s office. “Our Conservative government will not apologize for ensuring taxpayers’ money is treated with respect,” Employment Minister Pierre Poilievre said in a statement.

The longer the debt goes uncollected, the greater the likelihood the government will have to write off millions in benefits wrongfully handed out to Canadians for a variety of reasons.

The amount collected peaked in fiscal year 2012-13 when the government collected $31.4 million, the same year the Tories faced accusations they were requiring officials to meet quotas in the fraud hunt, a charge the government denied.