Mr. Speaker, on October 29, I asked a question of the Minister of National Revenue concerning the employment insurance eligibility of tip employees.
The minister stated that consultations were ongoing between the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Human Resources Development and himself to find a solution to ensure that the policy implemented by the Quebec government is compatible with employment insurance eligibility.
I wanted to come back on the matter because, in a way, it requires urgent action. The bill introduced in the National Assembly is now at the clause by clause study stage before a committee and we need to know if the federal government will make the necessary technical changes.
We must remember that the Quebec government wants tip employees to claim their tips, in consideration of which they could use those revenues for their employment insurance entitlement, something that is easily understandable.
The analysis made led to the conclusion that employers should collect only 20% of tips to simplify the process. We are waiting for the federal government's decision. We know there was some kind of agreement in principle, but the regulatory change is yet to come.
Would it be possible to have an announcement on the matter by the revenue minister, the Minister of Human Resources Development, the Minister of Finance or the three of them if they wish? We would like to finally go ahead with the new system designed by Quebec. I know that it could interest other provinces as well. If the necessary regulatory changes were made, the new system could be implemented for the coming fiscal year, thus allowing tip employees to earn employment insurance benefit entitlement for the tips they actually earned.