Mr. Speaker, I have one question to put to my hon. friend, the hon. member for Wetaskiwin.
The hon. member went on a bit about the UI program. As opposition members are wont to do, the member focused on what he thinks are some of the more negative aspects of what we have done or not done with UI.
One thing that he did not point out is the reduction in premium rates that will come about from $3.07 to $3.00. According to the government, and I have no reason to disbelieve the calculation put forward by the hon. Minister of Human Resources Development, that premium reduction alone could translate into as many as 40,000 jobs. That reduction does put an additional $300
million into the hands of business. Most of that is small and medium size business.
I would like to know from the hon. member for Wetaskiwin how he feels about that particular reduction and whether he would support putting that kind of money into the hands of business which might use it to increase jobs.