Thank you, Mr. Chair.
First of all, I would like to correct a comment made by our friend Mr. Lake, who distorted the facts a little. I recall that a recommendation was passed unanimously by this committee to the effect that the money that had been removed from the fund would be repaid in the amount of $1.5 billion per year. This appears in the December 16, 2004 report and again on February 15, 2005. It was recommendation 3 in a unanimous report.
But when we debated Bill C-280, Mr. Peter Van Loan, the government house leader, proposed putting funds into the fund to the tune of $4 billion per year. Our friend Mr. Lake was perfectly right to describe this proposal as quite irresponsible. But now he is sitting with the government, we are told that it is not responsible to put money back in the fund. When you are a member of the opposition, you sometimes say things that you do not hold to when you become a member of the government. I feel that the Conservatives are presently in that position.
That said, we are very worried about your reasoning on the responsibilities of employees and employers. I recall that, in Quebec, the CSST, like other large public and quasi-public organizations, has employees and employers on its board of directors. This morning, you stated once more that the board's directors, seven in number, would be part-time positions. We must therefore conclude that skilled and specialized people will be in place to advise them.
What is preventing you from adopting the proposals from employees and employers about the way the board's directors should be appointed? I am not talking about the entire board, but at least two people from each group.