So we bring you that reminder in the spirit of the day and in the new spirit of reviving classical languages at the Commons committee meetings.
With regard to the debate around the future of Canada's supply of workers, we remain troubled that since the financial meltdown of 2008 the average Canadian couple—each partner earning $50,000, at least—between them and their employers, they're sending $934 a year more to Ottawa in employment insurance payroll taxes than they were at the onset of the recession. We think that Parliament ignores the fact that this money is coming right off people's paycheques. It is diminishing their disposable income and it is making it more difficult for a consumer-led recovery that generates employment and prosperity. It makes it tougher for Canadian families.
We think that the absolutely first order of business with family-friendly tax relief in the coming budget has to be getting these payroll taxes back in line and getting this program under control. By the government's own projections, the government is expecting to bring in at least $4 billion, and possibly $5.5 billion more, in employment insurance payroll tax revenue than goes out in benefits. Yet, for every dollar of payroll tax revenue that's collected, the government is spending 11¢ on administration.
How does this affect Canada's labour markets? We just heard a story today of a boat maker in New Brunswick who moved to Maine. He cited employment insurance regulations as one of the biggest aggravating factors. A young person today can work 26 weeks in any major Canadian city, whether it's Halifax, Moncton, Calgary, or Vancouver, and they won't even get their contributions to the EI fund back. People who are working and making a working person's wages don't even get their contributions back. Yet in some of these economic regions, someone can work the identical number of hours and get $17,000 in EI benefits.
Well, no wonder we're having a hard time filling job vacancies in Canada, when, depending on your postal code, you can get $17,000 in benefits, while someone living in a major city where there is work gets nothing. They don't even get their contributions back. It's an injustice. We urge this committee to tackle that issue.