Hashtag Of The Entitlement Generation

"She said the business paid more money in taxes to the federal and provincial governments than staff claimed in employment insurance benefits."

How much more?
Enough to pay the for the office staff, salary and benefits that she receives as and MP?
What is government and all it's programs supposed to run on, Lizzie?

"Ms. May said that from 1975 to 1980, she received what was then called unemployment insurance during the off-season while working as a waitress and cook at her family’s restaurant and gift shop business in Cape Breton"

Cheeze und Crackers!
Lizzie's bio says she only became a Canadian citizen in '78, yet here she was by her own account collecting pogie since '75!?
Somebody put this broad in irons.

I might have had some respect for her had she worked for some seasonal tree planting thingy or something.

Her family business? C'mon. Worked over the table long enough to collect..... keb't working under the table the rest of the time.

Just like thousands of other people that use the system. No fault to them, the government benefit is there, I use whatever tax breaks etc I can get too.

But Ms May is held to a higher standard. Or lower, can never really remember

* kept Sorry guys

Like most tree huggers, May is a professional activist that will be unfulfiled unless she can move the country back to the stone age. I wonder if she is aware of the fact that drones like her or her party members did not survive very long in the stone age. To the Green party, modern technology is a curse that must be eliminated in order to save the pristine environment they worship. I doubt the Greenies would last a month if their wishes came true. Even spotted owls and spirit bears would taste good if you are starving. These people are all brainwashed idiots and most of them have been supported by hard working taxpayers their whole life. It is certainly not inconceivable that their dreamworld will come crashing down around their ears and I doubt there would be a lot of sympathy from people that have worked for a living to support these drones. EI is a safety net, not a entitlement while you worship Gaia.

can you say d-o-o-s-h-b-a-g? (not worth correct spelling)

Ambitious bunch down in Cape Breton. Good candidate for a nuclear waste dump. The federal government put endless businesses in Cape Breton paying close to 100 % of the cost and they all went broke. The place is toxic.

As I commented in K McParlands article, the best thing to do is privatize it . Set it up and pay for it as you would car, home, life insurance. Of course you wouldn't be obligated to purchase it, but insurance companies could offer a full array of plans to suit everyone's needs. Premiums would be based upon employment stability and history.
I'm constantly hearing the whining that this is an insurance plan and they're paying for it, so why not? Could it be any worse than a rigid gov't run operation ?

If this 'insurance scheme' is truly warranted, simply allow the recipient to collect a total of 52 weeks every 10 years. This would allow an individual in a 30 year working career 3 years off. More than generous I would say.
And, you should allow working folk to opt out...
this would speed up the collapse of a truly flawed scheme.

I thought Old Lizzard May was still swimming back from the South African UN EnviroFascist Conference. After all she is against all carbon based energy. But I guess being the Chief Buffalo Wallow Woman of the Green Communist Tribe she feels entitled to her entitlements. Hopefully one day the Lizzard is forced into a sweat shop job at minimum wage with no tax breaks, and 1/2 a dozen kids to support and the foreman trying to lay her off every 3 months just so they do not have to give her benefits. It is because of trough pigs like Lizzard that the average Canadian Family now pay more in taxes than they are allowed to keep for Food Clothing and Housing Combined. Fat Slob.

she could have worked in the forestery business in the off season chewing down trees

NME666, thanks for the laugh!

The fundamental problem is people forget it is an insurance policy, NOT a lifestyle choice. I've always had insurance as a renter, a driver, and as a homeowner, having PAID INTO the system doesn't give me the right to smash my car and torch my house just to get what's owed to me. Like any other INSURANCE, those likely to use and reuse it should pay higher premiums for less benefits until their situation changes. You want to work seasonal? Great open a savings account and put some money aside for the off season, otherwise reconsider your career options.

If auto insurance worked the same as EI, every couple of years everyone and his dog would be leaving their car at the top of a steep hill with the brakes off in order to use the proceeds of the insurance claim to buy a new car. May is too dense to know the difference between an insurance scheme designed to protect people from unforeseen catastrophic loss and a boondoggle which swindles other workers and taxpayers out of their hard earned money to subsidize her chosen lifestyle.
The country can survive the likes of Elizabeth May and Thomas Mulcair. It is less certain that it can survive an electorate which believes that Elizabeth May and Thomas Mulcair are good choices for public office.

Based on what Betty the Beaver said she would no longer qualify for EI anyway. If you work for a family business you can not collect EI if you are laid off. Too many cheats out there working the system. Too easy to lay off the employee, have them collect EI and spend a little "family time" at the family business.

Yes, I agree with Joe. You cannot collect EI if you work for a family business.

The Rodent Queen's story stinks.

Joe "If you work for a family business you can not collect EI if you are laid off."

Not an absolute, if you are doing regular work that an employee would do otherwise.

Its not only Individuals who abuse this Program. Municipalities have used it to stop hiring permanent employees. In favor of seasonal workers.
The same can be said for Industry as well.
Easier to have semi permanent employees one can fire than others one cannot.
Let the government pay for the off time is the thinking, not us. The Liberal Chretien used 90 billion accumulated of this money to pay off debt, than turned the EI program into just another tax. He had to change the law to do it. So when you see the EI taken off your check. Its really not for the program anymore, but just part of a payroll tax that goes into general revenue.
Than you have the preferential Pogie users who like the winter off.Even though some can apply for winter work in some Municipalities.
Its why government will never get rid of it, its supported by to many interests. Both Governmental along with commercial backing.
Now that its a Payroll tax, they want to slim it down for more monies in General revenue.
Just enough to not cause havoc to a system that is integrated into this schema.
I can guarantee there last thought is to really change it.
Companies find it useful to combat Unions. The Government for revenue.
May is just another user, who you can tell by her mentality thinks its a human right. Most seasonal workers do.I know a lot of them working for the City.

The point is that May is an entitlement pig.

Now thanks to a bunch of ignorant fools who supported her election to our government ... she is going to be at the trough for life.

This is NOT an "insurance" program. It's a transfer program from every taxpaying citizen to every seasonal worker.

It doesn't matter what she "paid into it" when she KNOWS she's getting it all back and more. What risk is there to her funds? The risk that she will get and keep year round employment?

It pays for itself, does it? No, it doesn't. It's OTHER PEOPLE being forced to pay for her.

In the US, mountainous regions have restaurants and gas stations that can't operate for part of the year. What they do is SAVE from the time business is good.

Many workers in Las Vegas live in Los Angeles. They make the drive each weekend to fill the weekend demand. Fisherman in Alaska live there for the fishing season and go to the lower 48 to work there in the off season. But they are so well paid when they fish, they really don't have to - they choose to.

There is no public good in keeping people on the dole on a regular and recurring basis. That's not insurance either. Imagine if your car and 100,000 other people's cars had an accident every winter with 100% probability. No insurance company would accept those policies.

People need to get through their heads that insurance is for uncertain risks, not known costs.

Oz: EI is not restricted to citizens. All residents pay into it, and all residents are entitled to it when unemployed. If non-citizens were not forced to pay the premiums, then you might have a small point.

Frankly, the serial users and abusers of the systems are hardly non-citizens. On the contrary, it takes a citizen to how to game the system properly.

The real scandal is that a restaurant cannot stay open in the winter in Cape Breton. Why is that? Because the whole island shuts down to collect their EI. Nobody spends any money in the winter. Nowhere else in the world does an economy shut down for half the year like it does in many places in the maritimes. It is EI that caused that to happen.

From the story: "Most of the forest industries in this country would not be able to have a trained workforce that could pick up when they’re ready to come to work, if their employees didn’t find work that was so compelling that they weren’t available,” she said. (end quote)

So why is this a problem? Doesn't the Green Party want to shut down all extractive industries anyway?

If NAFTA had been a properly implemented Free Trade program, many seasonal workers would have the opportunity to work year round.

I worked in construction for 27 years,and each Winter the pickings were slim,often worked half time or sometimes two or three months off with no work at all.

UI,as it was then called, helped and I appreciated being able to collect it, but it certainly didn't cover all the bills.

BUT, my Union called and had several months work in the Southern U.S.,which I wasn't allowed to do because of U.S. protectionism. If Free Trade had allowed workers to cross Borders,like capital is allowed,I would never have been unemployed at all.

Ross Perot once said Canada had been suckered in to a disadvantageous agreement,and I have to agree.

As to the Maritimes and EI, it's a welfare scheme,I've met people who have taken advantage of it for 20 years or more,and it's part of the fabric of that portion of this great Nation, like multiculturalism.

If we want to end EI,make North America a true Free Trade zone.

It is not an insurance program. The fact that everyone pays the same rate no matter what their job is proves it.

Imagine this scenario, you walk into an insurance brokerage and tell them you want an automotive policy and that you will total your car in six months time, but you want to pay the same rate as your maiden aunt who has never had a claim in 30 years and only drives to church on Sundays. The broker would refuse your business as insurance is to protect against the consequences of unforeseen circumstances not certainties.

If EI truly were insurance there would be different rates for different occupations and regions with seasonal employees paying the highest rates of all since it is a certainty they will claim at the end of the season.

So Lizzie May was (is?) a serial abuser of the contributions of other Canadians. Who would have thunk?

Lizzie's bio says she only became a Canadian citizen in '78, yet here she was by her own account collecting pogie since '75!?

So what?

Just as ugly inside as out.

My wife and I ran a small incorporated business for 30 years. We were the only two 'employees' - deemed as such because our little corporation is seen as a seperate entity while those who work for it are considered employees, - owners or otherwise.

As a 'corporation' we had to pay EI twice. Once from the corporation on behalf of it's emplyees - us. And then by us, as employees of the corporation.

Yet we were not allowed to collect EI, even if for some reason there was not sufficent work to keep us both fully employed. I could not 'lay off' my wife, nor could she lay off me.

So how is this family business different than of Lizzie May and her family, other than her parents may not have incorporated their restaurant business.

It's a moot point in any event because I'm too conservative, too honest and too proud to take money that I haven't earned.

I forgot to ask Ms. May. If you were 'entitled' to EI because you paid into it, I'd like to know how I can entitle myself to 30 years of DOUBLE payments into EI with no election to ever collect?

Surely there's a pot of money somewhere that I can get a taste from.

I'm too conservative, too honest and too proud to take money that I haven't earned.

You wouldn't make much of a farmer.

Surely there's a pot of money somewhere that I can get a taste from.

Thought you were too conservative, honest and proud?

"When I needed it, I used it"

Let me correct that headline for you, Lizzie:

"When I wanted it, I abused it."

Thanks for the peek into a green crystal ball.

If it is insurance, why is it not voluntary? I would be much better off keeping that money myself and investing it - I could draw on my savings if I needed due to a period of unemployment.

This program is robbing us of our savings. We must rely on the benficit government to allow us a pitence, in case of need. Grrr##

And, of course, professional scammers like Elizabeth May, live off the government teat.

"You wouldn't make much of a farmer."

Wow. I keep wondering whether Phil was abused by a farmer during his young life. He sure has a hate on for an farming - old and noble profession on which we all rely.

As for "getting a taste", I'm just being sarcastic/snarky. My wife and I rely solely on what we've managed to save and invest. Though our single largest expense is still taxes. And the corrosive effect of crown corps and their exhorbitantly increasing rates - hydro, medical services plan, gas taxes, transit taxes and property taxes are all working in combination to steadily erode our standard of living.

I may have to clear our five acres and start farming!

It's those damn SK farmers who make sure the Dippers won't come back that pisses phil off.

That and farmers don't grow marijuana legally. The genocidal hatred of Ukrainians and Mennonites are a symptom of his pot-headed-ness.

"...I keep wondering whether Phil was abused by a farmer during his young life..."
Posted by: No Guff at May 27, 2012 8:08 PM

Well, I figure it was farm girls who threw him down and farted on him in elementary school. But, you have to give him a bit of credit - nobody likes paying exhorbitant prices for food just to maintain closed economic systems that benefit a few.

I believe most of the comments cover her precisely.
So, I have no comment, simple as that.

Do the residents of Maine ,new Hampshire ,Vermont, rhode island, have the same problem with seasonal work the same way the maritimes do? The have a similar geographic location don't they. Are the Americans just more resorceful and hard working?

Do the residents of Maine ,new Hampshire ,Vermont, rhode island, have the same problem with seasonal work the same way the maritimes do? The have a similar geographic location don't they. Are the Americans just more resorceful and hard working?

dmorris, well said @ 12:56.

Some people confuse insurance with assurance.

jwkozak91, thank you.

Fishermen and Forestry workers aren't even close to being farmers. While the farmer works year round to raise things for the "harvest", God does that for the fisherman and logger. They come 'round for the harvest and collect pogey the rest of the time. Just like farmers only get paid when they sell the grain or beef and make do the rest of the year, seasonal workers should accept that they are making good money during the harvest and that should be well managed for the whole year!

The problem with choosing farming as a means to suck in government money is this: farming actually requires constant year-round effort and ungodly working hours.

Nah. Become an MP or MLA instead, that's the ticket!

The problem with choosing farming as a means to suck in government money is this: farming actually requires constant year-round effort and ungodly working hours...

Posted by: JJM at May 28, 2012 9:23 AM

Sure. All that planting, sowing and harvesting from Novemeber to April is brutal.

phil,You show up in the oddest places.Now your a supporter of Liza May and her pogie choices but dont like farmers getting the same.Make up your mind,you are either for subsidies or against them.O, by the way, hows that farm coming along.Dont tell me that you are to dense to take my advice? If you had followed my advice to buy a farm when I first gave it to you,and sold it in this market,you would have had ample money to move out of your mommys basement and have a gentlemans lifestyle. You are just like a lot of losers,better to stay safe than risk what you have,which is zilch.

jamie,I will tell you as I tell phil,when farmers are planting spraying and harvesting ,there is NO income,only expenses.Their families still go to school,eat and buy things.When harvest is complete the bills incured over the spring and summer haave to be paid.The land taxes are due,the machinery payments are due,the Visa is due and someones going to university.From Nov till April that is when the produce is taken to market and either sold or stored ,hopeing for a higher price.That period from Nov to April often tells a farmer whether to keep farming or sell out.

city of calgary seasonal workers use it every winter, been going on as long as i remember and i'm 59yrs old

"Sure. All that planting, sowing and harvesting from Novemeber to April is brutal".

Somehow I expected a little better of you, Jamie Mac! -phil the retard, I could understand.

Once the crop is in the bin and the seeding & harvesting equipment is put away for the winter, the work is far from over.

Now comes dealing with the production- monitoring storage and dealing with grain maybe going 'out of condition' by aerating, drying, or 'turning' to preserve its quality; following commodity markets and pricing inventories over time, then arranging custom hauling or doing it yourself if so equipped. Either way, it's not a job completed in a week-and-a-half....when you figure round trips these days are probably 4-6 hrs and average farms now take dozens, if not in some cases, hundreds of Super B semis to move it out, and the trucks don't load themselves either. Nor do the bin sites clear themselves of snow, or equipment co-operate at -25 C.

Today, a farm without a well-equipped, heated work-shop is a rarity. Equipment is routinely shuttled in and completely gone through so as to have it ready for an uninterrupted season of next use. In some cases, engines/machines/vehicles are overhauled, new ideas are experimented, revision or fabrication is ongoing.

It would probably amaze many, that most mechanical advancements in ag technology had their origins in a farm workshop, where an ordinary joe was trying to deal with a specific problem. Only when a fresh concept is bought forward, do the big boys- Deere, Case IH, NH, etc. step in, promote it, take it to market, and profit hugely, but i digress....

Contrary to some's fantasies, modern farming establishments don't just materialize overnight. it takes planning, capital and physical effort! A tremendous amount of energy makes it happen! (You know, kinda like a factory, a processor, a service industry) oops!

A legion of days in the office, or behind a computer are commonplace. Dealing with gov't regulation and redtape is endless, be it CRA, GST, Crop Ins, all kinds of federal or provincial agencies; accountants, legal firms; or grain marketing, researching/sourcing crop inputs, learning new technology, it's endless.
An 'urban' business would probably have a full time staffer doing the work.

And if he's not doing alot of this work himself, you can be damned well assured he's paying handsomely to have it done on his behalf!

But, there's no greater satisfaction....anywhere!

The widespread myth of farmers spending their winters in Arizona, are largely that... a myth. More often than not, it's the retired ones who've sold out or passed on their farm holdings to their offspring who are doing that, just like every retired teacher, doctor, beaurocrat, business owner, or what have you! And dammit, it won't be long before I'm doin' it too! But I still need a little more time.

But, you have to give him a bit of credit - nobody likes paying exhorbitant prices for food just to maintain closed economic systems that benefit a few.

What benefit? In the early '70's a barrel of oil and a bushel of wheat were the same price, around $5.00. Wheat hasn't changed much, I'd say you're getting a pretty good deal.

The last paragraph:

"It’s a structural reality of the seasonal industries in this country. If you don’t like it, you can have a conversation about the fact that forestry, fisheries, tourism, mining in some parts of the country are seasonal and that very large corporations benefit from this system… If you don’t like it, then have an evidence-based conversation about changing that system. But since its legal, it pays for itself, I don’t know why people have a problem with it."

What did these industries and workers do before UI was created in the 1940s? They must have managed to get along without it. That's all the "evidence-based" information you need.

If you build a welfare state, people will come to depend on it.

I don't know what put the burr up Phil's ass on farmers but they have been my neighbors for more than 20 years and as far as I'm concerned are the most wonderful, down to earth people on the planet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1eoOI6gi24