moved for leave to introduce Bill C-478, an act to amend the Employment Insurance Act (qualification and entitlement to benefits).
Mr. Speaker, this bill concerns the eligibility rules. In this bill, I move that the eligibility rules as set out in this legislation be changed to 350 hours or 20 weeks of insurable employment where at least 15 hours were worked each week.
This is the aim of my bill, because it is unacceptable, given the $43.8 billion surplus in the employment insurance fund, that only 33% of women and 44% of men qualify for employment insurance benefits.
This could correct this flaw in the legislation, which has meant that people are unable to qualify for employment insurance benefits.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)