By The Canadian Press

OTTAWA - The number of people receiving regular Employment Insurance benefits rose by 54,300, or 7.1 per cent in September after two months of declines.

The largest increases were in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia. The number of beneficiaries reached 818,000, up 63.5 per cent from October 2008 when employment hit its peak.

The largest year-over-year increases were in Ontario, B.C. and Alberta, most of them coming between October 2008 and June.

The number of initial and renewal claims received in September fell five per cent, or 14,700, to 280,700.

The number of beneficiaries more than doubled in several cities, with the fastest year-over-year increases in Calgary and Edmonton.

In Ontario, the number of beneficiaries rose by 22,500, or nine per cent, in September after declines in July and August.

Ontario has suffered the fastest rate of employment decline since the start of the labour market downturn, with over half of the decrease coming in its manufacturing sector.

The number of people receiving regular EI benefits in Ontario rose by 117,100, or 75.7 per cent, since October 2008.