Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I would like to welcome Ms. Byers, Mrs. Hugues, Mr. Jackson and Mr. Hamilton. First of all, I would like to commend Mrs. Hugues for introducing this bill, which we intend to support. Later, I will be moving an amendment along the lines of what Ms. Byers was proposing earlier, namely that the benefit level be set at 60%, rather than at 55% of insured earnings. As we continue our discussion, we'll see if the committee might be amenable to this amendment.
I really do appreciate your initiative, Mrs. Hugues, given that it keeps this debate on employment insurance in the forefront. To my way of thinking, it is a crucial debate. When the management of the TD Bank suggests to us that amendments are needed to EI, it means that there are significant problems with the system. As a rule, recommendations to improve the EI system do not come from banking institutions. The TD Bank has recommended that the 360-hour threshold for qualifying be adopted, which clearly shows that support for this proposal is growing.
Your initiative is even more timely today, given the presence of the mayor of Elliot Lake, Mr. Hamilton. I'm very familiar with this working-class, mining region, even though there are not many mines still in operation, because one of my brothers worked in the mines. His health suffered some as a result of his working down in the mines.
I have two questions, the first of which is directed to you, Mrs. Hughes. Given the thought that went into your bill and the discussions that you have had to date, would you be open to an amendment that we would like to move to increase the benefit level from 55% to 60% of earned income?