Canada Employment Insurance Commission (CEIC)

The CEIC plays a leadership role, with Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), in overseeing the Employment Insurance (EI) program. For more than 75 years, this tripartite organization has included representation from business, labour and the Government of Canada.

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Services and information

The CEIC plays a key role in overseeing the EI program. ESDC and Service Canada carry on the administration of the EI program on behalf of the Commission.

The Commission has the legislated mandate to annually monitor and assess the EI program. In this context, the CEIC is responsible for:

overseeing a research agenda for the annual EI Monitoring and Assessment Report, including the impact and effectiveness of employment benefits and support measures; and
delivering the report to the Minister by fiscal year end, for tabling in Parliament.

The Commission also has responsibilities in the following areas.

EI policy and regulations

The CEIC, under the authority of the Employment Insurance Act:

reviews and approves policies related to EI program administration and delivery; and
makes regulations, with the approval of the Governor in Council

Financial transparency/rate setting:

the CEIC commissions an EI premium report from the Senior Actuary and prepares a summary report
delivers both reports to the ministers of ESDC and Finance for tabling in Parliament
sets the annual EI premium rate according to the projections of the Senior Actuary; and
sets the annual maximum insurable earnings according to the legislative requirement

EI appeals

The EI Appeals Committee seeks advice from both Commissioners, for Workers and Employers, before proceeding with respect to judicial reviews or appeals to the Federal Court, the Federal Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court of Canada
Both Commissioners - for Workers and Employers – as part of a committee with the chairperson of the Social Security Tribunal, are consulted by the Minister before recommending to the Governor in Council any person for appointment as member to the EI section of the Tribunal

Additionally, the CEIC has authority to perform duties and functions in relation to, but not limited to:

making regulations, with the approval of the Governor in Council, regarding the registration for, use of and periods of validity of the Social Insurance Number
overseeing delivery of pan-Canadian programming activities under EI Part II
approving amendments to Provincial and Territorial EI Part II funding agreements
approving Work-Sharing agreements of $600,000 or more
employment services
developing and using labour market resources; and
performing duties and functions as directed by the Minister and/or the Governor in Council

What we are doing

Publications

Consultation and engagement

The Commissioners, establish and maintain working relationships, and consult with, private-sector organizations and individuals that are clients of, or affected by, ESDC programs and services, particularly with regard to EI. These relationships fulfill the representational responsibilities of the commissioners and enable them to reflect internally the concerns and positions of the private sector regarding the administration of legislation, policy development and implementation, and program delivery.

Learn about past EI Consultation activities.

Members

The Commission has 4 members, representing the interests of government, workers and employers.

The Commissioner for Workers and the Commissioner for Employers are appointed by the Governor in Council for terms of up to 5 years. They are mandated to represent and reflect the views of their respective constituencies.

The chairperson and vice-chairperson are respectively the Deputy Minister and Senior Associate Deputy Minister of ESDC, who represent the interests of government. The Vice-Chairperson votes on decisions only if the Chairperson is unavailable.