Mr. Speaker, for a long time provincial governments have been requesting greater responsibility in labour market development. The government has now responded.
Last week it sent the provinces and territories a proposal that offers them responsibility for active employment measures funded through the employment insurance account. It offers them the opportunity to deliver measures such as wage subsidies, income supplements and partnerships for job creation, and the chance to provide labour market services such as screening for employment programs and employment counselling.
About $2 billion worth of programs and services have been put on the table. Canadians will benefit from the new labour market arrangements because they will more closely reflect local and regional labour needs and will eliminate unnecessary duplication between governments.
No issue matters more to the government than helping unemployed people get back to work. We believe that co-operation with the provinces and the-