To all Chairpersons and Members of Employment Insurance Boards of Referees

“Letter to Members - Favourable Decisions to Workers - Employment Insurance (EI) Appeals” is available in PDF format - the file can be opened with the freely available Acrobat Reader.

Subject: New Database: Employment Insurance Appeal Decisions Favourable to Workers

Introduction
This is to inform you that a new database entitled "Employment Insurance Appeal Decisions Favourable to Workers" is now available to Employment Insurance Boards of Referees and the general public on the internet site "Serving Employment Insurance Appellants" at the following address www.ei-ae.gc.ca/en/home.shtml.

Background
This database contains a collection of Canadian Umpire decisions (CUBs) where all decisions rendered were favourable to workers. These decisions were and are selected by the Unemployed Workers Help Centre of Regina, the Community Legal Assistance Society of Vancouver and the Mouvement Action-Chômage de Montréal.

In the interest of promoting natural justice and fairness, the Employment Insurance Appeals Division, in collaboration with the Canadian Labour Congress, makes this material available to Employment Insurance Board of Referees, appellants and the general public on the above mentioned website.

Implementation approach
As part of a phased-in approach the present database contains only a subject matter index of the various issues appealed with the related Umpire decisions identified. By mid-October 2007, corresponding summaries or précis of these decisions will also be included in this database and available through a hyperlink from the subject matter index.

Conclusion
In the introduction to the database, potential users are reminded that decisions favourable to the Commission are not included in this database and need to be researched to obtain a more comprehensive picture and understanding of the existing jurisprudence dealing with employment insurance issues.

Patricia (Trish) Blackstaffe Commissioner (Workers) (819) 994-6205 trish.blackstaffe@hrsdc-rhdsc.gc.ca

Jacquie Manchevsky Director Appeals - Employment Insurance (819) 997-6298 jacquie.manchevsky@servicecanada.gc.ca

André Piché Commissioner (Employers) (819) 994-6115 andre.piche@hrsdc-rhdsc.gc.ca