Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you everyone for joining us here today.
My first question is for Mr. Murphy. I've read your recommendations. In Point 2, you mention employment insurance. Interestingly, you reminded us that currently, only four out of every ten unemployed workers receive EI benefits when they need them. I submit to you and to committee members that any insurance plan that offers benefits to only four out of every ten insured members in need would be perceived as scandalous, and rightly so.
Furthermore, the benefit rate is quite low because for several years now, the government has been reducing benefits and restricting program eligibility, while at the same time maintaining employer and employee premium levels for the most part. As a result, the EI fund has amassed an enormous surplus.
The Bloc Québécois has called for—and in the past the Conservatives have agreed with us—for an independent employment insurance fund and has demanded that employee premiums be used solely to provide benefits to people who are out of work.
Do you agree with our position, or do you think any surplus funds should be deemed to be part of the government's Consolidated Revenue Fund?