Mr. Speaker, the federalists have long held that Quebec received far more in EI benefits than it paid out in premiums.
But today, the federalists can no longer use this argument to turn a deaf ear to Quebec, which is claiming its fair share of federal structural spending.
Since 1995, Quebec has put more into the EI plan than it has taken out.
In 1995, Quebecers paid $4.477 billion in premiums, but drew only $4.343 billion in benefits.
In 1996, they paid $4.475 billion in premiums and received $4.122 billion in benefits.
In 1997, the shortfall was $1 billion. And finally, in 1998, Quebecers again put almost $1 billion more into the plan than they drew out.
In four years, Quebec has contributed over $2 billion more than it has received, and the federalists have fallen silent. It is high time that government members began demanding that Quebec receive its fair share of structural spending.