Thank you, Chair.
I'd like to thank you all for coming today. I know that the notice was relatively short, very short in some cases, so I appreciate the fact that you took the time to come.
We have decided, as a committee, that we want to have a look at this new EI Commission. As you know, it was indicated in the budget that this crown corporation for EI would be created. It's a big change. One of you, maybe Mr. Hanson or Mr. Murphy, referred to this as a dramatic change. It is a dramatic change. It doesn't mean it's necessarily bad or good, but it's something that I think needs to be evaluated, and I think we need to have that input. So it's a worthwhile thing for this committee to be looking at, and we need to get the input of people who are affected by this move.
I must say that last week we heard from departmental officials about what they know about it, and they allayed some of the concerns that had caused me to bring the motion to study this to the committee. But there are some concerns that remain, notably the fact that outside of these few sessions we'll have as a committee, there hasn't been much consultation thus far. And the officials indicated last week that there probably isn't going to be much more until this board is put in place.
We're concerned about the operating costs. Ms. Sgro mentioned that at the last committee meeting. I think Mr. Kelly-Gagnon mentioned that we want to make sure we're not just creating another bureaucracy, that there are changes that have to be made by government anyway. The issue raised by Mr. Gagnon about whether this is recession-proof is a good question. I want to get into that with you if I have time. If not, I know that other members will. The other issue is the makeup of the board and how we're going to go about doing that.
I thank you all for coming, but you'll understand if I start off with our witnesses from Cape Breton. I think it's very important that we hear from people who are directly affected, both from a worker point of view and from a management point of view, in an area where EI plays a very important role.
My colleague Mr. Cuzner, who pushed very hard to have you included as witnesses, sends his regards. He couldn't be here today.
I want to ask a few questions of you guys. I appreciate the fact that we've had a bit of Cape Breton bluntness brought to this consideration of EI, so feel free to speak your minds and tell us what you really think--not that I need to tell you that.
So Mr. Murphy and Mr. Hanson, first of all, I'd like either one of you, if you could, to tell us how important EI is to the social infrastructure where you work. Perhaps, Mr. Murphy, you could talk from a construction point of view, and Mr. Hanson, you could talk about the kind of fishery that would be possible if EI weren't in fact a part of the social infrastructure of your communities.