The extensions to Employment Insurance in the federal budget are being welcomed as a chance for workers to get the training for the jobs they need.
That's great for businesses, because laid-off workers can turn themselves into skilled workers in demand, said John Winter, the president of the BC Chamber of Commerce.
"It's an excellent measure, a timely measure, and a much needed measure," Winter told CTV News.
Employees pay regular employment insurance premiums so that when they lose their jobs, they can collect payments.
In the federal budget released on Tuesday, one key measure was to extend the maximum time employees can collect payments from 45 weeks to 50 weeks.
That's going to come in handy for mechanical engineer Brian Givlin, who found himself in a jam last week when the company he worked for laid much of its staff off.
Givlin has sent out some resumes already, but in the meantime applied for EI. He started to fill out the forms today.
"I've got my car to pay for, my rent, my student loan...and every little bit helps," he said.
B.C.'s industries have been hit hard by layoffs, and the number of people on EI has swelled by a quarter since last year.
Charities say the extra time on EI will soften the recession's punch -- and give people looking for work a break.
"I think that changes in the budget are really phenomenal for the people on EI," said the Salvation Army's Major Gordon Armstrong.
"To be able to add five weeks gets them to be able to go out and look closely for the jobs that they need," he said.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Jon Woodward
