Working patterns are evolving -- often beyond the control of the individuals concerned (this trend is well documented in Employment in the Service Economy, Economic Council of Canada, 1991). People holding part-time, short-term, or home-based jobs often find themselves cut-off from the UI safety net and from its related features, because they were not in a working situation that allowed them to build up entitlement.
However, we reaffirm the necessity of maintaining the integrity of the UI system as earnings insurance.
As the Report of the Task Force on Labour Adjustment stated: "Becoming unemployed impacts on an individual's well being, but remaining unemployed has an even more devastating effect." The transition system must provide ways to break the vicious circle of discouragement or, even better, prevent discouragement from occurring in the first place. Early intervention through diverse forms of assistance, even to would-be unemployed, is critical. This should be recognized in the UI system, as we argue later in this chapter, supporting the recommendation made by the Task Force on Labour Adjustment.
As training is critical to successful transition into employment, UI recipients -- like other individuals -- should be encouraged to engage in relevant training without losing UI entitlement. In some instances, preferential access to student financial assistance may be preferable. This is one example of how income support mechanisms can be complementary.
Social Assistance
Social assistance involves several levels of public administration: the federal government, the provincial or territorial governments, and municipalities. It is a complex system that is not often driven by the need to enhance the active participation of recipients in the work force.