However, they should have assurance that the service, body or organisation is operating to a standard sufficient to control compliance with the eligibility criteria.

However, they shall ensure that they have assurance that the service, body or organisation is operating to a standard sufficient to control compliance with the eligibility criteria.

Bill C-265 is asking the government to amend the Employment Insurance Act in the following ways: to reduce the entrance level requirements for the employment insurance program benefits to a flat 360 hours; to eliminate the variable entrance requirement; and to introduce a new best 12 weeks approach for determining benefit rates.

Specifically, we would recommend the reduction of the current qualification requirement for eligibility from its current 910 hours back to 700 hours; a reduction of entrance requirements in low unemployment areas; reconsideration of the eligibility rules from the Employment Insurance Act in order to compensate for women's current inequalities in accessing these benefits, owing to their non-standard employment patterns; consideration of raising the benefit levels for parental leave under the EI Act; and development of an addition within EI to extend coverage to self-employed and non-standard workers, to reflect the changing dynamics.

The higher the unemployment rate is in a particular region, the more difficult it is to obtain work and to accumulate the necessary hours to qualify for EI. Evidence indicates that the variable entrance requirement, as compared with a fixed entrance requirement, as proposed in this bill, has played an important role in equalizing the percentage of individuals who meet EI entrance requirements across unemployment rates.

With regard to compliance with Community standards in accordance with Article 33l(2a) and (2b) of Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999, expenditure relating to payments outstanding in respect of commitments to beneficiaries undertaken by the final date of eligibility for expenditure of the current programming period shall be eligible under the EAFRD in the new programming period, provided that the rural development programme for the new programming period makes a provision for such expenditure.