Southern Interior now qualifies for extended EI benefits

May 12, 2016 | 12:43 PM

OTTAWA — Documents outlining how the federal government chose 12 economic regions for extended EI benefits suggest Edmonton and at least two other areas would now qualify for the same help.

The documents, obtained by The Canadian Press under the Access to Information Act, explain why other regions didn’t qualify for the help, aimed at areas hit hard by a prolonged downturn in commodity prices.

University of Calgary economist Trevor Tombe says three regions – Edmonton, southern Saskatchewan and B.C.’s southern interior – would qualify under the government’s formula when accounting for the latest unemployment figures.

He says at least two more regions could qualify requirements next month, should the unemployment rate not drop significantly.