Joining The Call: Reduce the EI Premium rate to 1.58%.

JThe Alberta Hospitality Association is joining the call to help lift the strain on small businesses across Canada. We join the voice of Restaurants Canada and other business associations to urge the federal government to act on the findings of a recent report titled “On the Precipice—Help is Needed“by Ian Lee, PhD, Associate Professor at Carleton University, which dives into the profound impacts of EI Premiums on Small businesses. 

We are currently navigating an affordability crisis, and this report highlights the challenges caused by high EI Premiums amidst the highest cost pressures we have seen in decades. A stat from Restaurants Canada states that bankruptcies among restaurants and accommodations, construction and retail doubled from 2019 to 2024.

This data underscores the urgent need for the Federal Government to lower the Employment Insurance Premium rate to 1.58%, for small businesses and their employees, from the current rate of 1.66%.

“Lower EI premiums will channel more funds into the hands of the significant number of young workers, particularly in accommodation and food service roles, who make up a large portion of this industry, and rely on this income to fund their education,” said Ian Lee, PhD, Carleton University and the report’s author.

We back Restaurants Canada and agree that reducing EI premiums will not only bolster disposable income for employers and employees but also offer immediate support that will ensure restaurants can continue to operate and contribute to the economy.

Want to join the voice? Tell your Member of Parliament Here. 
Download the full report here: LINK

Visit the Restaurants Canada Campaign landing page here: https://www.restaurantscanada.org/liftthestrain/