Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
This is the first time I've had a chance to sit on this committee. Allow me to welcome you. I'm also jumping from one thing to another, and I wish you a very happy Valentine's Day, to you and to our colleagues around this table.
I feel more comfortable with the human aspect of things and human resources. I represent a riding north of Montreal, Laurentides-Labelle. North of that riding, there's a small single industry RCM that has been hit hard by the forest crisis. Most of the sawmills are shut down, and 1,500 people have been laid off since January 2007.
I was also fortunate enough to sponsor a bill in the House, Bill C-269, which was designed to enhance and improve the employment insurance system and thus to enable more unemployed workers to qualify for benefits. What is unfortunate is that the bill died on the order paper because the Conservatives did not want to give it Royal Assent. That's very unfortunate. As you know, the Bloc Québécois fought a long battle to have Bill C-269 passed.
The second battle we are waging concerns the creation of an adjustment program for older workers. We're pressing the present government on this matter. If the program were in place, it would provide older workers with a bridge, from the moment they lose their jobs to retirement, through benefits that they could receive. This would enable a region like mine to retain a young and skilled labour force. Currently we're experiencing an exodus. Our young generation is leaving the region, and our population is very old. It's very hard to diversify an economy and to put other measures in place when you're experiencing an exodus such as this.
Can someone comment on that? Mr. Vincent, I'm listening.