Mr. Speaker, Canada needed a new and modern system of employment insurance. We have actually ef-
fected a very dramatic shift from a passive role to an active role in assisting people to go back to work, which was absolutely necessary. The changes are about getting people back to work, allowing people to help themselves and responding to the way people work today in the new economy. It was important for us to address the issue with the new economy.
The goal is to help people to go back to work when there is work available and for employers to accept a larger responsibility to create more employment for these people.