Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for Matapédia-Matane for his question.
I hope in mentioning my children that I did not create a wrong impression with the member for Matapédia-Matane because that was not the intent of my mentioning them.
I was making a comparison of young people coming out of university, high school or college a few years ago and obtaining a job and today. If they had a certificate or diploma from a university it was almost a guarantee that they could get a job. It was much easier. That is gone. It is no longer in effect. Young people graduating today who might have a masters or PhD still have to spend two years looking for a job. The situation has changed.
My children were raised in a very fortunate time in the history of Canada, They were able to access a job immediately. They were fortunate they did not have to go into the UI system and that money was able to stay there for those who needed it. It was not necessary for them to participate in a government program that was there to benefit those who could not find work.
I have a great deal of sympathy for the people who live in an environment or in a territory of Canada, such as the member lives, where their work is seasonal and it is very difficult for them to find work for 12 months of the year.
These are the types of reforms we are talking about in the human resources development program. They are specifically to deal with the people who live in the member's region, and in the Atlantic region or in the northern part of Canada where work is seasonal.
This is part of the consultation process. They will be consulting with the people in Quebec and asking how this program suits its needs. That is a major portion of the consultation program and is what is so important. We are not just saying that what is suitable for my riding of Nepean, Ontario is suitable for the member's riding in the province of Quebec. Every riding is different and that is what is very unique about Canada. We are very unique not only in each province but as we move from region to region. This is what the program of reforms is trying to address, again through the consultation process.
Some students will not be able to afford to go to university if the tuition rates are raised. As Mr. Axworthy said on the steps of Parliament Hill the other day, he is not putting less money into education, he is putting more money into education. He is trying to ensure that students who do not have a university in their town-as my children did, as students in the member's area who have to travel to Rimouski to go to university-that funds are in place so they can go. The students of wealthy families should have a responsibility to support those in less wealthy families who are from less wealthy regions.
I firmly believe we are headed in the right direction. Obviously the consultation process is going to prove us wrong if we are wrong or prove us right if we are right. We are there and we are very much prepared to listen.
I thank you very much, deputy, for your two very good questions.