Mr. Speaker, it is important to point out two very important figures. During the past year 86,000 fewer people applied for unemployment insurance as a direct consequence of improved job creation and employment development. In other words, the number of people applying for unemployment insurance has fallen drastically. The number of people who have exhausted their benefits has fallen by almost 25 per cent.
To say, as the hon. Leader of the Opposition tried to do in his statement yesterday, that the consequence of the problem is because of people exhausting UI benefits is simply not borne out by the facts.
We understand and certainly share a very strong concern about long term unemployment problems. They are faced by every country. There are major changes in the workplace. That is why we want to bring in reforms to our social, training and development programs. To go around pointing the finger, as the hon. member did, and saying that is the problem simply is not borne out by the reality of the facts.