Mr. Speaker, the EI system is showing an incredible surplus of $600 million per month, yet less than 40% of unemployed Canadians qualify for benefits.
Now the government suggests that it will use some of its fiscal surplus to provide tax cuts to the wealthy. It is like some perverted version of Sherwood Forest where it intends to rob from the poor to give to the rich.
Will the finance minister reject calls from the Business Council on National Issues and others to take billions from the pockets of the unemployed to line the pockets of the rich? Will he commit today to use the EI surplus only to restore benefits and eligibility and for no other purpose?