Mr. Speaker, I just figured out why the hon. member for Beauséjour—Petitcodiac got elected. She has become a seasoned speaker but, more importantly, she is a person who tells the truth, who describes what is going on in her region, who has heart and tells it like it is in this House.
There is a message in there for the Liberal majority. This member defeated Dominic LeBlanc, the son of the Governor General of Canada. In the neighbouring riding, Doug Young, the sponsor of this EI reform, was also defeated. I think these two men personify the Liberal Party's arrogance in the maritimes.
We will not rewrite history, but I would nonetheless call upon the members who will participate in the vote on this motion tonight or tomorrow to think it through, especially those living in high unemployment regions, as well as any member with constituents who, as a result of the small weeks program, receive ridiculously low benefits that are practically impossible to live on.
At the same time, they hear that there is a $20 billion surplus in the EI fund, that running the small weeks program costs between $100 million and $125 million a year, or 0.5% of this surplus, and that the government is responsible for the increased poverty across Canada. I think they get the message.
If they do not send a clear message to the contrary very soon, the Liberals will pay the political price, and deservedly so.