Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister.
Before the Liberals came to office, the previous government made major cuts to unemployment insurance. In Montreal, these cuts amounted to over $800 million over four years. The Liberals, who were then in opposition, strongly condemned these cuts to unemployment insurance. Some members who are now ministers even took part in a 1993 demonstration in Montreal in bitter cold temperatures.
What did they do after coming to power? Their successive reforms to unemployment insurance will deprive Quebec of benefits totalling $900 million this year and $1.2 billion by the year 2001.
Will the Prime Minister admit that his government's past and future cuts to unemployment insurance will exceed $900 million this year-I am adding the 1994 reform to the EI reform-and $1.2 billion in 2001?