Public Safety committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. My name is Hassan Yussuff, and that is just one of the reasons I'm opposed to this bill. The other 3.3 million reasons are those unionized workers across this country whose rights are also under threat. Let me begin by saying that the Canadian Labour Congress understands very well that the government has a responsibility to safeguard our public safety.

Finance committee  Your analysis is absolutely correct. I think what's unfortunate here is that there's an expectation among workers that paying into the system, they will get a benefit at some point if they lose their job, or get access to training in that regard. We're seeing consistently across this country, not just in the Toronto numbers that I've stated but right across this country, that workers are less and less able to access the system when they do lose their jobs, much less getting any benefit out of the system, because the restrictions are so high for them to qualify to get benefits.

Finance committee  Well, with our analysis, we use a more balanced source for our information. We could give you our own, but the Parliamentary Budget Office said it's likely to create 800 jobs for $500 million in the benefits that will be received by small businesses. We think it's quite unfortunate, given the fact that such a huge swath of workers across this country is not accessing benefits.

Finance committee  Our numbers are very close to the Parliamentary Budget Office numbers in regard to job creation.

Finance committee  Yes. I think actually you could hire people and get more out of that $500 million if you tried.

Finance committee  No.

Finance committee  Yes.

Finance committee  I'm here to tell you the story, because I don't think it will make much difference.

Finance committee  Yes, I would agree with you. When former finance minister, Jim Flaherty, brought in the changes for the rate-setting processes, it established an independent board or was supposed to accomplish that. For the most part of their work, they got it wrong and they got it wrong many times.

Finance committee  Very briefly, I think that since the recession of 2008 youth unemployment has been stubbornly high. It remains in the double digits. It really sends a bad message to young people who are trying to get an education or who have an education and can't find meaningful work. Our position is that government really needs a strong strategy to help that particular group try to find meaningful and full-time work.

Finance committee  First and foremost, in the EI program, as you know, workers pay 50% of the premium and so do the employers. In the context of choosing one side over the other, it seems reprehensible that workers would not even be considered in terms of how this would impact them. When you look at the benefit level that workers are receiving currently, with the current rules that exist for EI, this is fundamentally blatantly flawed.

Finance committee  As you know, there's an expectation when you lose your job that you're going to get benefits if you've paid into the system, and it is unfortunate, given the rules that currently exist, that workers can't even access benefits, which accounts for the 17% in Toronto. In addition to that there is a real systemic challenge in the country with regard to training.

Finance committee  First, James, let me thank you on behalf of the Canadian Labour Congress for inviting us to come to present our views today on Bill C-43. The Canadian Labour Congress, as you know, is the national voice on behalf of 3.3 million workers across Canada. I will focus my comments on the issues of employment before turning to the temporary foreign workers program.