Madam Speaker, I was listening to the hon. member for Fredericton-York-Sunbury, who is true to form, since I got to know him in the human resources development committee, and I know that he was sincere in what he just talked about. He seemed even to move you, Madam Speaker, because the points he made related to an area that you come from too.
In spite of all that he had a somewhat easier task today since he was speaking after a Reform Party member who was obviously attacking the unemployment insurance system head on. He found himself in a somewhat awkward position, almost in the opposition, and I would say to my hon. colleague from Fredericton-York-Sunbury that I think he would feel more at ease with us on this side of the House than on the other side.
Things being what they are, however, he is still sitting opposite, on the government side. I know he made some efforts, and he put forward a particular amendment. I am giving him a chance to talk about his amendment because we are in the House and, after all, are here to inform people. I know beforehand what he will say. I know that the three amendments he put forward for the Liberals do seem, at first glance, to soften a little the blow of the $365 million cuts, but nevertheless the budget goal remains the same: to find $2 billion.
In order to compensate for the $365 million forgone because of his three amendments, the government will have to go after abusers and repeaters even more relentlessly, and the hon. member for Fredericton-York-Sunbury knows it. Abusers are abusers, and all members agree that abuse should not be tolerated. But repeaters, according to the government, will be those who are on UI for five consecutive 20-week periods. They will get a one percentage point penalty each time.
People who will be affected are seasonal employees in the hon. member's area and in the Acadian peninsula we visited last year. People asked us not to do that. I remember it vividly. Both the member for Fredericton-York-Sunbury and I were deeply moved by these representations.
Today is a sombre day, because this bill provides for $2 billion in cuts, even after amendments to soften the blow. Benefits will be cut because the basic principle is still there. The one-week waiting period has been abolished, but the reduced earnings week principle remains. That will encourage more people not to report those reduced earnings. Obviously, this is a golden opportunity for abusers.
I have a question for the hon. member. He stood for the unemployment insurance plan, and he fought tooth and nail to have the minister make his bill less drastic. The hon. member managed to get a few amendments in to soften the bill's impact, but despite these amendments, this bill will take millions of dollars out of the economies of the maritimes and of eastern Quebec. Is the hon. member comfortable with this bill, sitting as he does on the government side?