Number of people getting EI benefits slipped 1.1 per cent in September: StatsCan

OTTAWA – Statistics Canada says the number of people receiving regular employment insurance benefits slipped in September by 5,700, or 1.1 per cent, to 525,900.

The agency says the number of beneficiaries fell the most in Quebec, with smaller declines in British Columbia and New Brunswick.

The number of beneficiaries rose slightly in Manitoba, continuing a trend that began in April, and other provinces had little change in September.

To receive benefits, individuals must first submit a claim and the number of claims filed indicates how many people could later become beneficiaries.

Nationally, the number of initial and renewal claims was virtually unchanged in September at 230,300 but several provinces showed increases that were offset elsewhere

Claims rose 11.5 per cent in Prince Edward Island, 9.4 per cent in Alberta, 5.1 per cent in Manitoba and 4.7 per cent in Ontario, with smaller increases in New Brunswick and British Columbia.

However, claims fell 3.8 per cent in Saskatchewan and 3.0 per cent in Quebec and there was little change in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador