When the officials were here I asked them about this extra $10 million a year under the Canada summer jobs program, and they confirmed it was going to happen. My concern was that it was going to be re-profiled in the way that CCL's funding had been re-profiled, which in effect meant cut out. I asked if it was going to be in every riding equally, and they said they hadn't figured that out yet. I hope they do figure that out.
The summer jobs program has been changed a couple of times recently. One was when it reflected the new census of 2001. Another time, I think it was 2004, the loaded-up cost of students--in other words, benefits on top of wages--had to be factored into the summer jobs program, in effect reducing the number of students who might apply. That was a problem.
I don't see that this motion is in any.... This is a recommendation. This is basically a recommendation to the government, saying it should take this seriously. I have an e-mail from Irwin Cotler's constituency office indicating that the Province of Quebec stands to significantly increase its minimum wage.
Our budget [for summer jobs] has not moved in several years yet we face an increase in the minimum wage....
I raise this in the hope that the budget for this riding, as for all Quebec ridings similarly affected, might be adjusted to allow us to maintain the level of programming offered by worthy groups.
I think there's nothing wrong with this motion. This motion simply says we should take into account the fact that costs have changed. It's not imposing this on the government; it's recommending reasonableness. That may seem like a lofty goal these days, but it's only recommending reasonableness in the carrying out of this program. I think it's entirely worthy of support.