Jane Stewart

[Agriculture, May 28th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I first want to say how much we appreciate the difficulties that may be associated to those who are working in the meat processing industry.

Let us be clear that the waiving of the two week waiting period in Toronto was for those who are directly affected by quarantine. We waived that two week period to support the quarantine for individuals who had no choice of going out to work, and could stay at home and have income for their families.

By working with the employers and the employees as we are doing every single day, we want to make sure that employment insurance work sharing opportunities and all the aspects of the employment insurance program are there for those who need it.

[Poverty, May 27th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I believe the hon. member is making reference to the market basket measure, a new measure to shed light on the complex issue of poverty, which was developed by the province and by the Government of Canada.

This measure was established out of consultation. Since 1998 we have been working with groups across the country to determine what would go in that market basket measure. It gives us an opportunity to look at the costs associated with living in Canada, in different regions in Canada: rural, urban, east coast or west coast. It is a very important addition to our understanding of poverty.

[Fisheries, May 15th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, I have not refused to meet with these important Canadians and I would hope the hon. member would see from my own track record that I do not shy away from meeting with Canadians wherever they live.

I would just point out to him yet again that every year this government transfers $90 million to the province of New Brunswick for circumstances just like this to use in targeted wage subsidies, job creation partnerships, and skills development programs.

I would ask the hon. member to work closely with his provincial counterparts in his area to ensure that those moneys come to his constituents.

[Fisheries, May 15th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to reiterate what my colleague has said. We are very happy to be working in partnership with the government of Quebec on this very important issue. As my colleague indicated, every year we transfer almost $600 million to the province of Quebec for just such a case.

We are very happy that the unemployment levels are coming down in Canada. These moneys are there for all Canadians who may find themselves without work. We know that the fishery is an area of direct concern right now. The moneys will be funnelled to those areas because that is where the need is today.

[Human Resources Development, May 14th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, this program is essentially to do exactly that. The hon. member is mistaken if he thinks that the money goes to the company. These moneys go to the individual employees, who are working very hard to ensure that they have continued employment at what has traditionally been and will continue to be a great employer here in Canada.

[Human Resources Development, May 14th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, the program to which the hon. member makes reference is a work sharing program. In these circumstances, employees and employers must agree to reduce the work terms of those working at the plant, and the Government of Canada, through the employment insurance program, provides some benefits.

This is an appropriate way of helping an industry move through a difficult path. We have used it here and we have used it with Air Canada. We have used it with small and medium sized businesses. It is a program that works and works very well.

[Fisheries, May 14th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, every single year the government transfers $90 million to the province of New Brunswick through the labour market development agreement to ensure that workers have access to jobs and long term opportunities. The government of New Brunswick has these moneys. It is using them in circumstances such as this one with the crab fishery. We continue to be there to support them and the communities as they work through this cyclical challenge.

[Employment Insurance, May 12th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is correct that we have had transitional measures in place in three different areas across the country as we have been implementing new employment insurance boundaries.

I am happy to say that as a result of a good working relationship in the areas, we are finding new and diversified work opportunities for Canadians in these regions. We continue to look at the impact of these transitional measures and are happy to see that, as we work together at the community level, with my department and other regional departments, more work is being found and that the solutions which Canadians want, which is work as opposed to benefits, are becoming more--

[Employment Insurance, May 12th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, we have added additional moneys. She made reference to softwood lumber. The hon. member knows that $246 million were made available for those who were affected by that trade dispute.

When we are talking about providing assistance to workers, the employment insurance system is there. We have strong partnerships with the provinces and territories. We have additional money for older worker pilot projects, as well as specific moneys for youth. We are there and we are being responsive.

[Employment Insurance, May 12th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, on the contrary. I would like to say to the hon. member that we are there and through the employment insurance system we are assisting workers who find themselves, through no fault of their own, without employment.

When it comes to the fisheries, as the hon. member knows, and my colleague made clear, we contribute to the provinces every year a significant amount of money for active measures. In the case of the Province of Quebec, the government receives well over half a billion dollars every year to deal with active measures in this regard.