Human Resources committee  I think that creating a Crown corporation should ensure more independence and guarantee that the surpluses are really used for reducing employment insurance premiums, if there really are surpluses.

Human Resources committee  The tax cuts were indeed announced by the government, but there were also significant investments in the social area. For example, there was a $39 billion increase in transfers to the provinces, which are the primary deliverers of social services and health services. This was prior to the significant tax cuts of the economic statement.

Human Resources committee  I think that it will come from the fund, so as to maintain the reserve at an appropriate level.

Human Resources committee  This is possible, however, as we heard earlier, the government guarantees the payment of benefits. As this program has already been legislated, a person is eligible regardless of the amount held in the reserve or the amount that is no longer in the reserve. The government, the federal Treasury, guarantees the payment of all the benefits to eligible persons.

Human Resources committee  I gather that this is so, because of the consumer price index or some other index determined by Statistics Canada. Currently, it stands at about 2% per year.

Human Resources committee  This is the way I understand it.

Human Resources committee  I would say the main difference between the 2005 rate-setting mechanism and the one that is likely with the changes that are before you today is the surpluses. The proposed board will have the management of a reserve, and then if there's a surplus the board would have to take that into account in setting the rate going forward.

Human Resources committee  I had prepared for a discussion of Bill C-50, but I have not memorized all the figures that go back to the 1990s. If I remember correctly, it was in 1993, or at least in the early 90s.

Human Resources committee  If I remember correctly, and as one of your colleagues mentioned earlier, the Auditor General in the 1980s, Mr. Desautels, made a recommendation. When large non-consolidated deficits crop up, he had strongly suggested that the government consolidate the employment insurance account so as to fully reflect the liabilities incurred by the deficit in the employment insurance fund.

Human Resources committee  Once again, if I remember correctly, the sums amounted to billions of dollars rather than hundreds of millions. These were fairly large deficits for a program of that size.

Human Resources committee  I think that the rates began to go down fairly quickly. We could provide you with detailed information about this in a few hours or in a few days.

Human Resources committee  Once again, these are very specific questions that reach far back into time. I should do some research before answering you. I am afraid that I might mislead you, but I believe that, based on the Auditor General's recommendation, the government did, indeed, consolidate the figures.

Human Resources committee  Fifteen does not stand for a percentage, but for the amount of 15¢. It is a maximum. Therefore, it would go down as far as 1¢.

Human Resources committee  With an exceptional improvement in the economic climate, it would be theoretically possible.

Human Resources committee  This is a question for Ms. Harrison. No one has been appointed yet, because the bill has not yet received royal assent.