Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak to the motion introduced by the hon. member for Roberval. While I am pleased to have this opportunity to share with the member and the House the accomplishments of the Liberal government, I am disappointed that once again the opposition's only effort is to ignore the positive and focus on the negative.
I would hope that prior to introducing this motion for debate the hon. member and his colleagues had discussed the proposed changes to unemployment insurance with their constituents. I have worked closely with the people of Guelph-Wellington in offering constructive proposals for genuine change in unemployment insurance.
I am particularly grateful to Jerry Wilson of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and Joseph Maloney of the Building and Construction Trade Department who have worked with me in this regard. Their suggestions, proposals and guidance have been of great assistance to me and I thank them for their work on behalf of workers across Guelph-Wellington and all of Canada.
I would suggest that any member in the House take the time to meet with some of these people. They have lot that they can help and share with each of us.
Let me remind the hon. member that it was a Liberal government that first introduced unemployment insurance in Canada. In July 1940 the Minister of Labour, the Hon. N. A. McLarty, guided the bill through Parliament. It was established to provide insurance against unemployment and to form an employment service.
The bill was introduced during a time of war following the great depression. It responded to the changing times of the 1940s and it gave protection to workers and their families that never existed before.
It is this Liberal government, with the work of Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Human Resources Development that wishes to afford better protection and we have offered concrete proposals which respond to the same difficult and changing times which faced the government of Mackenzie King.
I find it ironic, however, that the opposition parties criticize the government for its work on behalf of young people, women, seasonal workers and immigrants. Let us examine their record on behalf of these Canadians they seek to protect in this motion. Let us look closely.
We know that introducing employment insurance eligibility based on hours worked will help Canadians working in the building and trades industry, students and young people who rely on part time work for their employment.
Most important, we have made concrete proposals to assist young people in all of Canada, every province. Guelph-Wellington is the home of the University of Guelph. Many of our young people stay in our community to study and we attract hundreds of students from across Canada. This government is offering them more flexibility in repayment to make post-secondary education more accessible. We have introduced job focused internship programs and Youth Service Canada in co-operation with the private sector which has provided much needed assistance in the transition from the school to work.
What have the opposition parties offered? The Bloc tells young people that their future lies in the uncertainty created by a divided country. The Reform tells young people that their future will be
better by destroying the social programs that make Canada great and some day our future will be brighter.
Young people in Guelph-Wellington realize and they tell me that they have hope in a united Canada and in bettering social programs, not destroying them.
What have the Liberals done for women? Our proposals will provide greater assistance to low income families. Two-thirds of the claimants who will receive the family income support are women. Our record includes a new pension system that will mean that nine out of ten low income senior women will be better protected. Changes to student loans will allow expanded relief for women in doctoral studies.
What do the opposition parties have to offer for women? The Bloc offers uncertainty and discourages investment which can help women find employment and the Reform's discussion on women's issues in 1990 concluded that there are no women's issues. That is what the Reform's report found. The women in Guelph-Wellington will disagree.
In my work with representatives of the building and trades unions I brought forward their support for an employment insurance program based on hours worked. They wanted this proposal and the Liberals have responded. This is a positive step forward for workers who generally did not benefit from the previous UI system. With the changes announced by the government 45,000 more seasonal workers will be eligible for assistance.
The minister listened to the building trades. They have concerns which need to be addressed further and I acknowledge that. We will continue to work positively with them. This is a positive first step and it is concrete. You can see it and you know what is being proposed.
What do the opposition parties have to offer seasonal workers? Is the Bloc offering a first step, or a step into the uncertainty created by the breakup of Canada? Reform offers $15 billion of further cuts to social services, services which would benefit seasonal workers and their families.
Finally, the Bloc has expressed concern regarding the results of our proposals on immigrants. I welcome its concern for new Canadians and those who come to Canada to seek a better life.
Our proposals, along with the measures announced in the budget, and the emphasis on jobs and growth will give Canadians, whether they have been here for hours or generations, hope for their future.
The Bloc tells new immigrants that it wants to break up the country. Reformers believe that immigration should be based on economics alone. Reformers do not like policies based on compassion or need.
I recognize that our efforts to improve the unemployment insurance system will not eliminate unemployment in Canada. I recognize that but it is a good first step.
Guelph-Wellington, as part of the country's technology triangle, offers the best workforce in this country. We are known for quality, dedication and hard work. A national unemployment rate of 9 per cent is unacceptable to Liberals. While we have created over 600,000 jobs, we recognize that there is more that can be done and more that needs to be done.
The employment insurance reforms are made in the interest of protecting the very groups that this motion claims we are hurting. The simple fact is that young people, women, seasonal workers and immigrants, for that matter all Canadians, are better protected by the Liberal Party.
The Bloc offers only uncertainty and discourages investment that is needed to keep Canada strong. It discourages foreign markets. It makes everybody uncertain. It somehow believes that economies are built on policies that destroy rather than on commitments which build.
Reformers believe that if social programs are cut now in order to reduce the deficit, more could be spent on social programs in the future. That is like suggesting we burn down the house in order to make room for the furniture. If Reformers get their way there will be no social programs and no medicare.
This motion deserves to be defeated. It shall be defeated by the encouragement of the people of Guelph-Wellington who support our efforts to build programs that offer hope, protection and opportunity.