Ministers stress the need for additional measures
The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is urging the federal government to extend Employment Insurance (EI) benefits and introduce greater flexibility for workers displaced by the province’s unprecedented wildfires.
In a letter dated August 14, 2025, Gerry Byrne, Minister of Jobs, Immigration and Growth, formally requested federal assistance from Patty Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families. Byrne acknowledged the federal government’s ongoing support, including the deployment of Canadian Armed Forces and Coast Guard resources, but stressed the need for additional measures to address the financial hardship and uncertainty facing workers.
The province is seeking expedited EI claim processing for those experiencing employment interruptions due to wildfires, as well as an extension of a pilot project previously introduced in Alberta and Manitoba. That project provided a one-time credit of 300 insurable hours to help affected workers qualify for EI. Newfoundland and Labrador is also requesting the reinstatement of a 2024 special measure that allowed employer-specific work permit holders to transition to open work permits if their workplaces closed due to wildfires.
Evacuations have displaced numerous individuals and families, disrupting access to workplaces and creating significant economic challenges. As of August 13, an estimated 227 nominees and endorsees under provincial immigration programs are located within wildfire evacuation order and alert zones—a figure that does not include Temporary Foreign Workers and may rise if further evacuations occur.
The province has partnered with the Canadian Red Cross and the Salvation Army to deliver immediate support and continues to leverage all available resources. These new requests are in addition to recently announced EI flexibilities, such as waived waiting periods and changes to the Work-Sharing Program, designed to assist Canadians impacted by emergencies.
Minister Byrne stated, “To assist in that collective effort, workers who are displaced and impacted financially must get the necessary EI supports and work permit flexibility they require during this challenging time. That is why we are calling on the Federal Government to respond as it has for workers and their families in other parts of Canada.”
