Human Resources committee  The purpose of a pilot project, as I said, is to test a measure for application for future implementation in EI. So the preferred method here—the more relevant method and the one that was used with other similar measures in the economic plan—is to do it on a legislative basis because it's been set out as a temporary measure with a hard end date in September 2010.

Human Resources committee  If there had been a different objective, to test something for future application, yes. It could have done as a pilot project if it were positioned differently from the way it is in this legislation.

Human Resources committee  Sure. I think I will turn to my colleague Louis Beauséjour, who's a little closer to the actual analysis. He's in a better position to explain the calculation of that 190,000. I did outline the three factors, but Louis can provide more specifics.

Human Resources committee  Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman and members of the committee. I'm here today to speak to the committee about Bill C-50, an Act to Amend the Employment Insurance Act and to increase benefits. With me today I have Mr. Louis Beauséjour, the director general of employment insurance policy, and Mr.

Human Resources committee  Yes. The cost for the five weeks was that upon termination of the pilot project and its replacement by the legislative measure, the entire cost of the five-week project--

Human Resources committee  If my memory serves me correctly, I think I provided that in writing in response to a question from Mr. Lessard at the last meeting. But if not, we can certainly provide it again.

Human Resources committee  There's an important community element to this. In fact, one of the changes made in the budget was to expand the eligibility to a broader number of cities. It is focused on communities that are experiencing particular challenges. Single-industry towns are the most common setting in which a large number of older workers have to make a career change.

Human Resources committee  I can answer your first question about measures aimed at long-tenured workers. We have basically done two things. When we analyzed the impact of the economic slowdown, it was clear to us that there was one category of workers who had lost their jobs and needed a considerable amount of training.

Human Resources committee  Like any initiative, foreign credentials recognition as a federal program is subject to regular evaluations. I don't have at my fingertips when the next evaluation is scheduled for this program.

Human Resources committee  There is no plan at the federal level to create residencies; it would be up to individual provinces in terms of decisions like that. But I would indicate that this is a framework based on the recognition of foreign credentials. It's not limited to immigrants per se. Even though a large portion of the people with foreign credentials are indeed recent immigrants, I would agree with you that it's not limited to that, and the framework, we would hope, would serve both groups.

Human Resources committee  Oh yes, I'm sorry. On the LMDA question, as I indicated, we have confirmed agreements with nine provinces at this point. The only outstanding province--and we have an agreement in principle--is Newfoundland and Labrador; we expect that imminently. Then the three territories are expected to be signed during the month of June.

Human Resources committee  Sure, I'd be happy to speak to this. This program has been in place for a couple of years now. It's one that has involved nine provinces, nine of thirteen provinces and territories. The additional budget funding of $60 million over three years meant we had to go out and update our agreements.

Human Resources committee  In that year, it was around 225,000.

Human Resources committee  According to the latest available figures on the proportion of regular claimants who receive separation, it's just over 17%.

Human Resources committee  I don't have information available on pensions, unfortunately. Just to remind you, 2007 had a very different set of circumstances.