Make EI premiums levied on full time post secondary students refundable | Unpublished
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Bill Toms's picture
Ottawa, Ontario
About the author

BA (Honours Economics) MA York University
Federal Public Servant for 33 years at National Energy Board, Energy Mines & Resources (NRCAN), Bureau of Competition Policy, Environment Canada and Finance Canada. Retired in 2003 as Senior Chief Resource and Environmental Tax.
Currently Principal at ENTRANS Policy Research. See website for additional information.

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Make EI premiums levied on full time post secondary students refundable

January 3, 2015

Dear Mr Godin,
 
Several years ago you indicated to me that the NDP had no interest in proposing that the EI premiums levied on full time post secondary students be made refundable.
 
I had proposed a very simple system whereby this disguised "tax" would be refunded when students file their annual personal income tax returns. These returns of course would provide proof of their full time attendance at a post secondary institution.  Full time students cannot collect EI because they are almost always not available for work so it is a disguised tax and not an insurance premium.
 
I am hoping that you and Mr Mulcair might reconsider your decision and ask the new Minister of Finance to action this change in his 2015 Budget.
 
Furthermore... since income splitting has been made retroactive to 2014 there is now an excellent precedent to make this EI refund retroactive to the 2014 tax year as well.
 
Bill Toms