Retail Council of Canada commends government for lower EI premium increase in<br>2011

OTTAWA, Sept. 30 /CNW/ - After raising retailers' concerns with the federal government, Retail Council of Canada (RCC) commends the Minister of Finance and the Government of Canada for limiting the 2011 employment insurance (EI) premium increase to $0.05 for employees and $0.07 for employers. This is welcome news for retailers and their employees as they anticipated much higher EI rates in 2011.  

"Retailers are happy the government has listened to their concerns and reduced the level of EI increases during a time of fragile economic recovery," says Diane J. Brisebois, President and CEO of Retail Council of Canada. "Though not the freeze we were looking for, this is a reasonable increase that will help minimize the impact on our members and an economy that is still struggling to regain its footing following the recession."

RCC was also encouraged by the announcement that a review of the EI system will be undertaken and that limits will be placed on future increases. This will provide retailers with a greater incentive to retain current employees and to add jobs in future, which is critical to stabilizing the country's economy.

"We appreciate the government's leadership on this issue," adds Brisebois. "Scaling back these increases will save Canadian businesses over $640 million in 2011, putting them in a better position to hire and retain employees."

About Retail Council of Canada
Retail Council of Canada (RCC) has been the Voice of Retail in Canada since 1963. We speak for an industry that touches the daily lives of Canadians in every corner of the country - by providing jobs, career opportunities, and by investing in the communities we serve. RCC is a not-for-profit, industry-funded association representing more than 43,000 store fronts of all retail formats across Canada, including department, specialty, discount, and independent stores, and online merchants. RCC is a strong advocate for retailing in Canada and works with all levels of government and other stakeholders to support employment growth and career opportunities in retail, to promote and sustain retail investments in communities from coast-to-coast, and to enhance consumer choice and industry competitiveness. RCC also provides its members with a full range of services and programs including education and training, benchmarking and best practices, networking, advocacy, and industry information.

For further information:

contact Mark Beazley at [email protected] or 416-922-0553 ext. 228