Human Resources Committee on Feb. 10th, 2009

[Yves Lessard, Bloc, Chambly—Borduas, QC]

As far as we know, these were tax credits for the construction of multiple social housing units and for aboriginals.

[Diane Finley, Conservative, Haldimand—Norfolk, ON]

What exactly is your question?

[Yves Lessard, Bloc, Chambly—Borduas, QC]

Why wasn't this amount used? Are you going to use it for the same purposes?

[Diane Finley, Conservative, Haldimand—Norfolk, ON]

This is funding for Ontario. We want to continue transferring funds this year because the province had trouble establishing programs before the end of last year. So we want to spend it; we want to transfer last year's money over the next year.

[Yves Lessard, Bloc, Chambly—Borduas, QC]

Is this a supplementary amount that is being added to the same amount this year?

[Diane Finley, Conservative, Haldimand—Norfolk, ON]

I don't believe so.

[Yves Lessard, Bloc, Chambly—Borduas, QC]

So it will be transferred and they'll be able to use it.

[Diane Finley, Conservative, Haldimand—Norfolk, ON]

Yes.

[Yves Lessard, Bloc, Chambly—Borduas, QC]

Now let's talk about Canada Summer Jobs. You've added $20 million over two years. Are we to understand that that $20 million means $10 million a year in addition to the $97 million?

[Diane Finley, Conservative, Haldimand—Norfolk, ON]

Yes, that's correct.

[Yves Lessard, Bloc, Chambly—Borduas, QC]

In other words, the program is now worth $110 million a year.

[Diane Finley, Conservative, Haldimand—Norfolk, ON]

$110 million? No, it's $107 million.

[Yves Lessard, Bloc, Chambly—Borduas, QC]

In your budget, you also say that there will be improvements this year. Will that $10 million be applicable to the program this year, in 2009?

[Diane Finley, Conservative, Haldimand—Norfolk, ON]

There will be $10 million this year and $10 million next year.

[Yves Lessard, Bloc, Chambly—Borduas, QC]

Will officials contact us in our committees in order to complete project implementation?

[Diane Finley, Conservative, Haldimand—Norfolk, ON]

Yes.

[Yves Lessard, Bloc, Chambly—Borduas, QC]

Now I would like to address the issue of the accessibility of the employment insurance system. Some 53% of unemployed persons do not receive benefits. These are figures recognized by your own department.

Why are there no measures in the budget to improve employment insurance accessibility?

[Diane Finley, Conservative, Haldimand—Norfolk, ON]

I'd like to discuss the figure. According to our figures, 82% of people who have contributed to employment insurance receive it when they need it.

[Yves Lessard, Bloc, Chambly—Borduas, QC]

Yes.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Thank you. That's all the time we have for this round.

We're now going to move to the NDP.

Mr. Martin.

[Tony Martin, NDP, Sault Ste. Marie, ON]

Thank you, and good afternoon.

I want to go back to this comment about “lucrative”. You've indicated that the freezing of the EI premium at $1.73 per $100 will actually produce a $4.5 billion cushion. Is that correct?

[Diane Finley, Conservative, Haldimand—Norfolk, ON]

Stimulus.

[Tony Martin, NDP, Sault Ste. Marie, ON]

Does it provide the projected stimulus relative to the break-even rates?

[Diane Finley, Conservative, Haldimand—Norfolk, ON]

Yes.

[Tony Martin, NDP, Sault Ste. Marie, ON]

So there's break-even and then there's $4.5 billion on top of it. Is that what you're saying?