Thank you very much for the question, and thank you for your hard work and the collaboration. Thank you for pointing out the work we have done together on the GIS and seniors who received the CERB. I think there was a widespread consensus in Canada that our most vulnerable seniors were particularly hard hit by the pandemic, and the hardship it imposed and that this was an important action to take. We're glad to be following up on it.
This was something we were very clear about before tabling the budget. When it comes to further measures associated with pandemic support, it was very important in this budget to turn the page. It was very important to be clear that we had undertaken extraordinary spending during the pandemic. That was the right thing to do. It supported a lot of vulnerable people. We're also seeing that it was economically the right policy. We prevented scarring, and Canada's economy really has come roaring back.
It was also very important to make clear with this budget that the period of extraordinary pandemic support was over. We were facing a new set of economic challenges. I'm very sensitive—and you make a very strong point—about families and children and the inappropriate but real social shame that people may feel if they are poor. That's wrong, and I want to acknowledge that I'm grateful to you for making that point.
I will say this is a budget that believes in supporting working people. The Canada workers benefit will start to be delivered to people and will make a real difference.
Finally, I also want to point to the fact that unemployment today, at 5.3%, is at the lowest level it has been since comparable figures were collected. That is a real accomplishment of our whole country and supports working people very much.