Evidence of meeting #10 for Finance in the 41st Parliament, 2nd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was quebec.
A video is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Senior Economist, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
You don't understand the term “corporate”, sir? On behalf of my organization and on behalf of myself--
Conservative
Senior Economist, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
I'm trying to answer your question.
Conservative
Senior Economist, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
I've offered you my answer three times.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
Mr. Adler, I heard yes both personally, and yes for the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. Is that correct?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
Okay, that is correct.
Thank you.
Monsieur Côté, s'il vous plaît.
NDP
Raymond Côté NDP Beauport—Limoilou, QC
Mr. Chairman, let's come back down to earth.
Ms. Arruda, I very much enjoyed your opening remarks. It reminded me of when I had just graduated from university in the mid-1990s. For three years I went from one small contract to another. I also received social assistance, the huge income of $510 a month. Fortunately, at the time housing in Limoilou was half as expensive as it is now. Of course, I was receiving employment insurance at the time.
It is very difficult to go through the joblessness cycle. Allow me to tell you what the times were like. In Quebec City, unemployment was approximately 10%, 11% or 12%, which is radically different from the current situation. You have to have the means to deal with that. Income comes in, however there are expenses, housing, travel, food, appropriate clothing, etc.
For a long time now, radical changes have been made to employment insurance and not only by the conservative government. Do you think that the trap that catches people who are unemployed has become tighter, that it has a tighter hold on people, against their will and against their wishes?
Coordinator, Mouvement autonome et solidaire des sans-emploi (réseau québécois)
Yes, absolutely. I absolutely agree with you. It is extremely difficult and painful for individuals to find themselves without a job, to lose their job. It's very difficult psychologically. Not only do these individuals lose their jobs, an environment, a lifestyle and a routine, but they also have to face a system that may turn down their claim for benefits. If a claim is turned down, then there is even a longer process to go through. Benefits are provided but individuals are told that even though they have a right to them, they have to follow new rules, that is, accept just about any lower-paying job. That's what the law says anyway. So their financial situation deteriorates. People are told that they have to take a lower-paying job that isn't necessarily in their area and doesn't necessarily reflect their interests, their experience and their training.
Having to receive employment insurance benefits is scary. We are starting to see people who prefer to not file an employment insurance claim and just take a job quickly because they do not want that claim to be counted and then end up in the frequent claimants category. People are now afraid of using a system that is supposed to help them. They prefer to abstain from using it rather than suffer the effects of the reform.
Have I answered your question?
NDP
Raymond Côté NDP Beauport—Limoilou, QC
Yes, thank you very much.
I would like to ask you another question. I don't remember seeing this in the news in Quebec or any particular area of Quebec. However, this did make the headlines in New Brunswick. I am referring to the obligation to have potential employers fill in a form. This triggered a revolt, even on the part of employers who were closing their doors.
Has this been happening in any areas in Quebec?
Coordinator, Mouvement autonome et solidaire des sans-emploi (réseau québécois)
I couldn't tell you. I don't know.
NDP
Raymond Côté NDP Beauport—Limoilou, QC
Fine. I thank you for your candour.
I am now going to ask Ms. Moreau a question.
I am interested in one of your graphs on page 4. I am referring to slide number 7 on employment insurance premiums.
As Ms. Arruda said—and I asked this question of officials as well—there is no EI account balance before 2009. Obviously, this is a new account.
Why did you not speak to the $57 billion that were accumulated and that unfortunately disappeared from the public accounts?
Senior Policy Analyst, Canadian Federation of Independent Business
We limited our comments because of the limited time that we had at our disposal today and the fact that we were speaking to Bill C-4. I can tell you however that the situation you are referring to raised concerns among several of our members.
Conservative
Conservative
Dave Van Kesteren Conservative Chatham-Kent—Essex, ON
Thank you all for appearing.
Ms. Arruda, we're going to have to speak through an interpreter. I apologize. You wouldn't want to hear me try to address you in French.
I just want to commend you and your organization. I think it's a wonderful initiative to advocate for those who are less fortunate, and I think that in a civilized country, the issue of the unemployed is something that touches us all very closely.
Would you agree with me that the biggest right is a job?
Coordinator, Mouvement autonome et solidaire des sans-emploi (réseau québécois)
Was that question for me?
