what is ei in canada

EI stands for Employment Insurance, which is a benefit program offered by the Canadian government to individuals who have recently lost their job or are not currently working. The program provides temporary financial assistance to unemployed workers while they look for employment or upgrade their skills. EI provides regular benefits to individuals who lose their jobs through no fault of their own, such as due to an unexpected layoff or severe illness. The program also offers services to help unemployed individuals find a new job. EI is not the same as the Canada Recovery Benefit program, which is for individuals who are directly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic but are not eligible for EI. To qualify for regular EI benefits following a job loss, individuals must meet certain requirements, such as having insurable employment and working a certain number of hours. The EI program utilizes an online application process.