Our recommendation would be that this committee, as well as all ministers and parliamentarians, support Minister Solberg's announcement last week about setting immigration targets at 265,000 permanent residents, which we think is extremely important, and support the announcement to allow foreign students to work off campus.
Finally--this is more of a challenge than a recommendation--ensure that the committee, as well as the government, does not see the EI program as a panacea. EI has moved from a pure insurance program to a multi-social-policy payroll tax program. Half of the premiums paid are for things that have nothing to do with regular benefits to compensate for job loss. So while we're all concerned about EI, we need to see how that money is being spent and who is in fact benefiting.
Thank you.