Ms. McLeod said we were spreading misinformation. That is not true. I am voicing the concerns expressed by the people in my riding, employers and employees, who read the statements, who analyzed what the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development said in her announcement. When she says that an EI recipient risks losing their benefits if they don't accept a suitable job in Matane, even though they live 90 kilometres away in Rimouski, then it is a fact. And to say that the EI program is staying precisely the same as it was before is false. When the minister made her announcement 10 days ago, it was very clear that the conditions for employment insurance would change completely.
I have yet to hear the government deny or refute what Minister Valcourt said about an EI recipient having to accept a job that paid 70% of their previous wage, or risk losing their benefits and, should they subsequently lose that job, having to accept yet another job at 70% of 70% of their original wage. That is the very reason we have minimum wage legislation. When a government minister makes that kind of statement—in other words, this measure would lead to declining wages—it's quite a powerful argument.