Thank you, Madam Chair.
Mr. Lessard, it is a pleasure to see you in your new role before our committee. I have two questions. As I always tell the witnesses, I would like you to answer as briefly as possible so that I can ask a greater number of questions. You have heard me say that before.
First of all, back when I was Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources, I had been told that eligibility to regular employment insurance benefits varied depending on the number of hours worked as well as the regional rate of unemployment. At the time, I found that to be an excellent idea. I understood that there were regions in Canada where the unemployment rate was very high. Therefore, it made sense to require fewer hours of work from workers in those regions, so that they could access benefits. Your bill contains a rate of between 360 and 420 hours of insurable work, but that is invariable.
Could you explain why you are moving away from the former system, which seemed fair to me, and are considering a new one that is invariable?