The Government of Canada should immediately begin regular, timely, official publication of administrative counts of CERB/EI applications/recipients.

This information is imperative to have freely available to the public.

It should happen now.

For weeks, we have been finding out what is happening with EI and CERB through leaks to journos like in this tweet below, or as tidbits from ministers at the podium.

The data are available. They should be published publicly and through official channels. https://twitter.com/Gray_Mackenzie/status/1249692686816288774

Many govt critics over the last few weeks have waved "magic wands" over policy choices to elide real administrative challenges. I have a lot (too much?) tolerance for delays from administrative challenges.

But look--these data *are available*. https://twitter.com/Gray_Mackenzie/status/1249692686816288774

I sit on the @CDHoweInstitute Crisis Working Group on Household Income and Credit Support.

The deliberations of the council are confidential, but I will note that the #1 request in our public communique two weeks in a row is to FREE THE DATA. https://www.cdhowe.org/council-reports/ottawa-should-release-ei-and-cerb-data-quickly-regularly-crisis-working-group-household-income-and

I have had many discussions with private sector economists, local and provincial officials, + many others the last few weeks.

It is hard to overstate how desperate they are for current information on the labour market and the economy.

The data on CERB/EI are there.
Release it.

Final point. What administrative counts could be released?

* Daily EI/CERB headcounts.
* Breakdown by province.
* If available, breakdown by gender.

These data are in the federal govt's hands. The data should be released regularly, quickly, and through official channels.

/end

Yes. Important to point out--this isn't a self-indulgent request from academics.

This is vital information for banks, local governments, businesses, community organizations making *billion dollar* decisions in a fog.

Release the data. https://twitter.com/tammyschirle/status/1249732553864622083

I have immense respect for the public servants who are working hard under unfathomable pressures.

But if the numbers can be spoken by the Minister in public they can be published in a formal press release or put on a website.

Not released dribsy-drabsy. https://twitter.com/ArmineYalnizyan/status/1249731230112919558