The Accountability Framework-Expected Results

8.0 Official Languages

9.1 The Act requires that the employment benefits and support measures be implemented within a framework for evaluating their success in assisting persons to obtain or keep employment and that the Commission work in concert with the government of each province in which the benefits and measures are to be implemented in establishing that framework. The Labour Market Partners have, in consequence, agreed to the following criteria as the primary criteria for measuring the results of the employment benefits and support measures:

i.the number of active EI claimants that have access to the employment benefits and support measures;

ii.returns to employment of EI clients, with an emphasis on active EI claimants; and

iii.savings to the Employment Insurance Account as a result of re-employment of EI claimants, calculated as the difference between the individual's Part I EI entitlement and the actual pay-out of benefits to that individual.

9.2 For the purpose of paragraph 9.1(ii) an EI client is considered employed if:

a.the client has drawn 25% or less of his/her EI entitlement for 12 consecutive weeks (applies to claimants who return to employment 12 weeks or more before the end of their benefit period); or,

b.the client has drawn 25% or less of his/her EI entitlement in all their remaining weeks of benefits (applies to claimants who return to employment less than 12 weeks before the end of their benefit period); or,

c.the client is recorded as employed at the completion of his/her intervention(s) (clients who return to employment after the end of their benefit period or who were not active claimants); or,

d.the client is employed when contacted 12 weeks after the completion of his/her intervention(s) (clients who return to employment after the end of their benefit period or who were not active claimants).

9.3 The Labour Market Partners agree to jointly establish in advance of each fiscal year during the period of the Agreement, beginning fiscal year 1997/98, mutually agreed results targets for the coming fiscal year using the results criteria referred to in section 9.1. The Labour Market Partners also agree to establish joint mechanisms to set, measure, review and evaluate the annual results targets, taking into consideration local and provincial economic and labour market circumstances, results achieved in previous years, and the amount of funding available for the employment benefits and support measures. As a guide in setting targets, Canada will provide benchmark data from fiscal years 1993/94 and 1994/95.

9.4 The Labour Market Partners agree to the results targets specified below for fiscal year 1997/98:

Active EI Claimants served - 16,500

EI Clients Returned to Employment - 4,400

Savings to EI Account - $15 million

It is recognized that these targets are "soft" and may need to be adjusted during 1997/98 and that experience gained will allow for more precise targets by 1999/2000.

9.5 The Labour Market Partners agree to measure the results based on an agreed- upon methodology established by Canada that will be used across the country to measure the results of the employment benefits and support measures. In this context Canada agrees to consult with Newfoundland and Labrador to ensure that provincial economic and labour market circumstances are addressed. To this end, the Management Committee will, within one month of the signing of this Agreement, begin the process of establishing result measures and result targets for the number of EI clients who are not active claimants, served.

9.6 The Management Committee will use the setting of targets and their subsequent monitoring and evaluation to make any necessary adjustments to the design of the employment benefits and support measures and service delivery on an ongoing basis.