The federal government has introduced legislation to amend the Employment Insurance Act. Bill C-50, An Act to Amend the Employment Insurance Act and to increase benefits, if passed, would extend the length of time during which "long-tenured" employees may collect employment insurance benefits.

Under the proposed changes, "long-tenured" workers, workers who have paid at least 30% of the annual maximum EI premiums for seven of the last ten calendar years and who have not received more than 35 weeks of regular EI benefits, would be eligible for an additional 5 to 20 weeks of EI benefits depending on the number of years they have been employed and paying EI premiums. 

The proposed legislation appears to have silenced the calls for EI reform from opposition members, but given the recent speculation about a possible federal election, it is possible that Bill C-50 may not emerge from the legislative process.