Human Resources Committee on Feb. 12th, 2009

[Paul Thompson]

Sure, I can speak to that. There is an estimate contained in the budget that the fiscal impact of freezing the rates for these two years is $4.5 billion. That is relative to the break-even rates. Had the rate been set on a break-even basis, $4.5 billion in extra premium revenue would have been required over that two-year period, and that, of course, is shared among employers and workers.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Okay, that sounds great.

[Paul Thompson]

It's a ratio of 1.4:1 for the employers versus the worker portion of that.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Thank you.

Mr. Lessard, I know you had a quick question, but before we do that, we're going to finish on that note.

Tony was just asking me, and I think Madame Beaudin had talked about this, regarding the delivery agents for some of the funding for low-income housing, is it going to be similar to what's happened in the past? How are the moneys going to hit the ground? What agencies will be involved? What is the thought on that?

[Karen Kinsley]

Yes, funding will be used for programs that are currently cost-shared with the provinces. The provinces will have the responsibility to design and deliver the program in conjunction with a variety of other agents in the province that they choose. In the case of first nations communities, it will be delivered directly by the federal government in conjunction with regional liaison committees, and those include us, Indian and Northern Affairs, and the Assembly of First Nations representatives. So the three of us on a regional basis will look at the needs in the region and determine how those needs will be met with the budget available. Those committees exist today, and that is the current process.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Okay.

Mr. Lessard just wanted to sneak in one last question, and then we'll be done.

Mr. Lessard, you can have one question, sir.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'll be brief.

If I've understood correctly, the five additional weeks of benefits cost $1.5 billion and will also affect the regions with high rates of unemployment that already have pilot projects.

[Paul Thompson]

The purpose of the measure is to provide five additional weeks of benefits to EI recipients from every region of Canada where these five weeks do not already apply.

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

I see. The $1.5 billion affects every region including regions where EI recipients already got those weeks as part of their pilot projects.

[Paul Thompson]

No, this is an additional investment to fund the five weeks for the rest of the country.

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

For those that didn't get those five weeks.

[Paul Thompson]

Yes, that's right.

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

How much did the pilot project cost?

[Paul Thompson]

I don't have the amount at my fingertips, but I can get it to you after the meeting.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Thank you.

I do want to once again thank the departmental officials for taking time and meeting with us so quickly. Thank you very much.

With that, I'm going to adjourn the meeting, so thanks again.