Mr. Speaker, unemployment insurance reform is of great concern to the people of the Gaspé Peninsula. In this context, it is essential that the information given to them be exact. I deplore the statement made by the hon. member for Bonaventure-Îles-de-la-Madeleine as reported in the March 3 edition of the newspaper SPEC . According to the hon. member, new entrants on the job market in the Gaspé Peninsula could be eligible for benefits after 700 hours of work, whereas Bill C-111 clearly stipulates that a new entrant will have to work 910 hours to become eligible for employment insurance benefits.
Unless it is assumed that our region is already no longer part of Canada, which is not the case, misinforming the public for partisan purposes has no place in a matter that is so crucial to the future of a region. The member should withdraw his statement as soon as possible or the minister should announce changes to the program.