Thank you for the question, which is important and complicated.
I want to start where you started. I believe, as Julie pointed out, both the EI system and CRA together, with the government and a Parliament that had the will to do it, we really managed to be there for Canadians during the pandemic. It's something I'm proud of. It saved lives, because it allowed us to do the right thing when it came to health, and it also rescued many families and people. It cost a lot of money, but it was the right thing to do, and I'm glad we did it.
In terms of what we do going forward, I am very glad that our government resisted, in the summer and fall of last year, irresponsible pressure from the Conservatives to cut contributions to EI and the CPP. Those would have impoverished the systems that working Canadians and Canadian seniors depend on.
I want to remind members of this committee, and Canadians listening, that fiscally irresponsible policy was advocated aggressively by the Conservatives. We held firm. I'm proud that we did. I'm proud that both contribute to our overall fiscal responsibility as a government and to the fiscal sustainability of these two essential systems, EI and CPP.
In terms of EI modernization, as you know, this budget takes some important steps in that direction with regard to seasonal work. Our government has extended the number of weeks people can be on EI for sick leave, and I am very supportive of that. There is more work to do on EI modernization. It's a very complicated system, and it's really important for us to approach EI modernization with the appropriate degree of care. That is what we intend to do.