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Wellesley Institute works in research and policy to improve health and health equity in the GTA through action on the social determinants of health.

Home Blog Is Canada’s employment insurance system working for those who aren’t employed? Mowat Centre consultation

Michael Shapcott

Is Canada’s employment insurance system working for those who aren’t employed? Mowat Centre consultation

The news yesterday from Statistics Canada that only half of the country’s 1.4 million unemployed are receiving employment insurance benefits underlines just one of the many policy concerns about Canada system for supporting jobless workers. Differing qualifications periods across the country, restrictions on special benefits, links to other income transfer programs are among the many challenges. The Wellesley Institute’s Sheila Block and Michael Shapcott were among dozens of policy analysts, economists, academics and insecurity specialists at a special consultation hosted by the University of Toronto’s Mowat Centre on employment insurance reform. The centre has posted resources on-line, including a workbook that explains key issues facing the employment insurance system and allows people to offer their observations and comments.

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Michael Shapcott

Michael Shapcott

Michael Shapcott is Director, Affordable Housing and Social Innovation at Wellesley Institute. Michael has worked extensively in Toronto, in many parts of Canada, nationally and internationally on social innovation, the non-profit sector, civic engagement, housing and housing rights, poverty, social exclusion, urban health and health equity. He is recognized as one of Canada’s leading community-based housing and homelessness experts. He is currently on secondment to the Princes' Charities Canada.

Acknowledgement of Traditional Land

We wish to acknowledge this land on which the Wellesley Institute operates. For thousands of years, it has been the traditional land of the Huron-Wendat, the Seneca, and the Mississaugas of the Credit. Today, this meeting place is still the home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island and we are grateful to have the opportunity to work on this land.

Revised by the Ceremonial Committee at the University of Toronto Office of Indigenous Initiatives in April 2021.