Mr. Speaker, overall reductions to benefits paid to recipients of unemployment insurance are adding to the welfare rolls of many provinces including Saskatchewan.
The cumulative impact of the cuts to the unemployment insurance program has been the addition of over 15,000 persons to the Saskatchewan assistance plan caseload at a cost of $63 million. In addition to the UI reductions, the Liberal government transferred responsibility for providing assistance to off reserve status Indians, adding another 10,000 people to the welfare roles at a cost of $38 million. In Saskatchewan, UI payments decreased by over 25 per cent from $410 million in 1992-93 to $300 million in 1994-95.
The Liberal government was elected on a platform of providing jobs. Instead it has thrown more workers on to welfare roles in Saskatchewan than ever before, adding to the burden of Saskatchewan taxpayers.
Canadians get angry when the unemployed are forced to live on welfare while in Ottawa a Liberal MP receives a free new suit simply for getting off his chair.