Lac-Megantic: Important Notice

The Government of Canada is committed to helping Canadians affected by the train derailment in Lac-Megantic. In order to serve citizens affected by this situation, measures have been put in place to provide access to Government of Canada programs and services including Employment Insurance, Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security, and Social Insurance Number (SIN) card.

Applying for Employment Insurance

Service Canada is making every effort to streamline the processing of Employment Insurance (EI) claims for all workers affected. Due to the unique challenges many of you will face, we are asking that the following processes be followed to ensure timely and accurate handling of all claims.

To apply for EI benefits, you must submit an application for EI online or in person at your Service Canada Centre. To access the application for EI benefits, go to servicecanada.gc.ca and click on “Apply for Employment Insurance Benefits”.

For more information, please consult the Frequently Asked Questions for Employees.

Employers seeking more information related to Records of Employment (ROEs) should consult the Frequently Asked Questions for Employers.

Interim Records of Employment (ROEs)

We understand that many of you will be unable to obtain ROEs in a timely manner. If sufficient information is received, we can create interim ROEs to facilitate earlier claim establishment. To enable us to create Interim ROEs, we require specific details related to your employment. Please complete the attached Request for Record of Employment, or provide the details by telephone, 1‑800‑206‑7218, or in person at a Service Canada Centre near you.

Direct Deposit

We encourage all claimants to sign up for direct deposit when completing their application for benefits. Direct deposit is the most efficient and surest method of payment that will not be impacted in the event of a potential postal disruption or natural disaster.

Other Services

For information regarding other services possibly affected by the trail derailment including SIN cards, please consult the Other Frequently Asked Questions.