Number of EI recipients, claims virtually unchanged in July: StatsCan

A total of 508,000 Canadians received regular employment insurance benefits in July, virtually unchanged from the previous month, according to Statistics Canada. 

After a long-term downward trend in Alberta, the number of people receiving regular EI benefits increased to 25,600 in July, up 2,100 or 8.7 per cent from the previous month. In Ontario, the number of beneficiaries rose 3.4 per cent to 154,300, more than offsetting a decline in the previous month.

At the same time, the number of people receiving benefits in Prince Edward Island declined five per cent to 8,100. And in Quebec, the number of beneficiaries fell 2.8 per cent to 146,300, the second consecutive decline in the province, said Statistics Canada. 

There were no notable changes in the other provinces.
Claims

To receive EI benefits, individuals must first submit a claim. The number of claims provides an indication of the number of people who could become beneficiaries.

Nationally, the number of initial and renewal claims was little changed at 232,400 in July, following an increase in June.

Provincially, claims rose by 8.9 per cent in Saskatchewan, 8.3 per cent in Ontario and 3.1 per cent in Alberta, while they fell by 6.6 per cent in New Brunswick, 4.4 per cent in Quebec and three per cent in Newfoundland and Labrador, found Statistics Canada.