moved for leave to introduce Bill C-421, An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act (single qualification period and benefit period increase for workers 45 years of age or more).
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the hon. member for Sackville—Eastern Shore.
It is a pleasure for me to introduce today five bills on employment insurance.
I hope that the members of this House will learn about these bills and support them. The current EI program no longer meets the needs of Canadian workers. These bills will fix some of the deficiencies in this program.
The first bill is entitled Employment Insurance Act (single qualification period and benefit period increase for workers 45 years of age or more).
This enactment amends the EI Act by removing the different qualification period for new entrants or re-entrants into the labour force. It also increases the benefit period for claimants who are laid off permanently after 10 years or more in the labour force and are over 45 years of age.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)