Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I did not refer to 66% in my bill. As you are perhaps aware, I have tabled a number of bills. When I tabled one with 14 proposed changes, the Liberals nearly hit the roof. They said that I had asked for too much and that, had my proposals been more moderate, they would have supported me.
The conservative approach is straightforward; they do not want to do anything other than reduce premiums. They think that people are abusing the system, that it is just a slush fund, and that we simply want to give those who are too lazy to work the opportunity not to do so. That is how the Conservatives approach the issue. Yet the first cut to the rate reduced it from 66%to 50%. The minimum wage in New Brunswick is about $7.50, which means that somebody who is unemployed receives half of that amount, about $3.75 an hour. That is less than welfare. I am talking about seasonal workers here, for example those who work in the tourist industry, people who earn the minimum wage and do not get any tips.
In 2000-2001, the government increased the benefit from 50% to 55%. The 66% rate that we used to have was the same as that offered by insurance companies. If somebody falls ill, for example, insurance companies cover 66% of the person's salary. If compensation is due, it is paid at almost 80%.
This program belongs to the workers. Often the people who really need it are those in low-paying seasonal jobs. I did not mention the rate in my bill because I was planning on tabling a separate one on that issue. After all, the Liberals do not like to vote on a number of issues at the same time. Yet, this morning, once again, I see that they are turning their backs on the workers. I am going to support Mr. Lessard's motion, but I am not sure that it will meet with everybody's approval.