OTTAWA - The number of people receiving regular employment insurance benefits fell in June.
Statistics Canada reports 507,600 people were receiving EI benefits that month, down from 512,100 in May.
The number of beneficiaries fell slightly in Nova Scotia, but was up in Ontario and Prince Edward Island.
The number of initial and renewal claims rose 3.4 per cent to 231,600 in June, with more claims in New Brunswick, Alberta, Quebec and Manitoba, but fewer claims in P.E.I. while other provinces were little changed.
The agency reports that between June 2011 and June 2012 the number of people receiving regular EI benefits fell by 62,900 — a 13.1 per cent drop.
The number of people receiving regular EI benefits fell in 123 of 143 large centres, increased in 16 others, while four didn't change.
