Mr. Speaker, they are incredible. The Bloc members are unable to see the benefits of these changes to the system. They fail to see the problems with the old unemployment insurance system.
Yes, I come from one of the Atlantic provinces. But, in these provinces, in my region, many people recognize that the old unemployment insurance program needed to be changed, renewed.
The hon. member speaks about my region being hard hit by these changes. As a matter of fact I think the member should examine the proposals a little more carefully and see exactly what is happening. The fact of the matter is that 45,000 more seasonal workers in Atlantic Canada will have access to employment insurance because of these changes.
Yes, there will be a reduction in the overall amount being spent, but we are focusing it much better toward the creation of employment, toward employment assistance programs, toward training programs, toward important things that are required to move this system away from unemployment insurance to insurance of employment, which is what it is all about.
In the year 1997-98 there will be a total net decrease of about six per cent. By the year 2001 the total decrease in the whole impact of the program will be about seven per cent. Considering that the cost of the program has gone from $9 billion 12 years ago to $17 billion today, it should not be surprising that we need to have some changes to this program. The fact that the total impact over the next five or six years will only be seven per cent total for this region should tell the hon. member something. We have done this by making sure that those who need it the most still have it. This means it will work well in Atlantic Canada.