Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I thank our witnesses for being here and sharing with us their opinions on this important Conservative bill, which, according to Mr. Layton, was demanded by the NDP.
We are even happier to hear you say that we should be trying to find out what it is in this bill that will make it of value. I am referring to the parameters which we feel are essential and that tie into the principles that you are championing yourselves. For example, the Employers Council of Quebec believes that this plan must go back to its original mission, which is to provide income to people who lose their jobs.
On that topic, here are my comments to you, Mr. Dorval. I am not the one making your strategic choices, but when you talk about how money should be used, I feel that you are not aiming at the right target. Currently, according to data used by the Department of Human Resources, 64% of unemployed people have no access to the plan. This does not address your concern, of course. But were those people excluded because there was not enough money in the fund? No, $57 billion were used for other purposes, with only employers and employees contributing to the fund.
It seems as though you have given up the fight, and the will to see the order of things restored. If what you are saying is truly to be believed, I think that you should ask that the employees of the people you represent get access to employment insurance and that your money be used for that purpose. I would like to hear your comments on that.