Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the working group on seasonable work and unemployment insurance on the excellent report "Jobs with a Future".
As it correctly points out, there is no such thing as a seasonal worker but only seasonal work. People who work in seasonal jobs may have no other work available to them in the off season.
Seasonal industries and the people who work in them have overcome the challenges of the harsh Canadian climate and geography and have built on the base of our abundant natural resources one of the most prosperous countries in the world.
Seasonal work currently provides jobs and livelihoods for over a million Canadians. Seasonal industries and the people who depend on them will continue to make major contributions to our regional economies even as we move into the new information economy. Unemployment insurance reform must take into account these special circumstances of those employed in seasonal work.
I encourage all members to read this well documented report and support it soundly.