Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Good morning to you all. Thank you for coming here to make your presentations. I would like to speak to Mr. Argue first.
The Ontario Coalition for Social Justice has some recommendations for us. You also feel that some employment insurance reform is a priority. You want to bring the number of hours needed to 360. I am sure that you are aware that, of the people without jobs at the moment, almost half have no access to employment insurance.
I am a Bloc Québécois MP. We have made proposals to the government, but, up to now, they have not paid any attention. It is as if they do not give a hoot about the unemployed, the people with no access to employment insurance. But there is an important point to consider. In the last 15 or 20 years, governments, both Conservative and Liberal, have taken $57 billion out of the employment insurance fund in order to fight the deficit. Now the deficit is going to go up again. The Conservative government is looking for a surplus in the employment insurance fund in the next few years, and eventually, in contributions.
I feel that it is important to include in your recommendations that the government absolutely must stop taking that money and must put an end to its plans to pay off the deficit with employment insurance money, in other words with the money contributed by workers and companies. I feel that it is important.
Do you have any comments on the matter?