Mr. Chairman, the fund grows for two reasons. First, there are fewer payouts of the fund. In other words unemployment is down.
Second, it grows through contributions. The contribution rate is set each fall in conjunction with the Minister of Finance and with the Minister of Human Resources Development. It will be set this fall so I cannot tell the member how big the fund will be in the future without knowing how many payments out there are going to be.
I do know that we need a substantial cushion because last time premium rates had to be raised in the middle of a recession. That is the wrong thing to do and that must be prevented in the future.