Thank you, Madam Chair.
Mr. Battle, Ladies, thank you for having accepted to meet with us in order to help us better understand the employment insurance problem.
Last week, we heard representatives from Statistics Canada. There is quite a spread between the data they provided to us and these numbers. I am having difficulty understanding why. For example, the percentage of persons who would be eligible for employment insurance was 48 percent for women, whereas you have talked to us about 32 percent. In the case of men, the proportion was 53 percent. The combined total for those unemployed who be eligible for employment insurance was approximately 57 percent. The numbers we were given also indicated that most women who work part time, 78.4 percent, do so wilfully, for reasons other than financial. This percentage was of 75.4 for men.
It is my belief that Statistics Canada is recognized worldwide as being one of the most competent authorities in the area of statistics. I have been listening to you and Ms. Dépatie, and saying to myself that the picture you are painting here is very different. How is it that there are so many disparities? Could you explain that to me?