Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
The first question I'm going to ask concerns employment insurance. I'll then talk about Summer Career Placements.
If you know what is happening with employment insurance currently, you'll be aware that in the next few days—and there will be other changes over the upcoming months—one of the pilot projects may not be renewed. I'm referring to the pilot project that provides for five extra weeks which is intended to fix the black hole problem, if I can call it that. We're currently getting an indication that this pilot project won't be renewed.
In October, there will be a similar situation with another pilot project. I don't know in which direction that pilot project is headed, but I'm afraid that it may also be left by the wayside. I'm referring to the pilot project on changes to some regions' economic areas, including Madawaska and the Lower St. Lawrence in Quebec.
Do you intend to or do you want to find solutions? On June 4, one of the pilot projects will come to an end. We've heard there will be only an assessment and that these people will be in a very tight spot as of June 5. Those who don't manage to tally up enough weeks over a 52-week period will find themselves in a black hole for some time.
Do you intend to continue with the pilot projects until the evaluations are conducted so that these people and the families that rely on them will not suffer? As we say, bills have to be paid. You've got to keep paying the rent, the mortgage, the groceries and electricity. It is no longer like it was in the 30s where you could buy on credit at your general store. That's no longer the way things are done. This is 2006.
What's your stance on that issue?