Madam Speaker, I want to take part in today's debate on the Bloc Quebecois' motion concerning a project for social union, following the remarks made by the Minister of Justice.
When the government wants to right a wrong, very often it will change a name. Unemployment insurance quickly became employment insurance. When protesters shout too loud in front of the Prime Minister, he does not hesitate to grab them by the throat, to throttle them, to throw them to the ground and to let his bodyguards break their teeth. You will agree with me that such behaviour certainly helps drive his point home.
In this social union where the Minister of Justice talks about equity and social justice, I wonder what kind of justice she sees in the employment insurance program. The fact is that the government has accumulated a $20 billion surplus in the employment insurance fund over the last four years, mainly on the backs of the unemployed since they pay EI premiums, and yet, when they lose their jobs, 58% of them are not even eligible for benefits.
It is just as if 58 out of 100 people paying car insurance found out, after a car accident, that they were not covered. I find this totally unfair.
Premiums are much too high at $2.70 for every $100 of insurable earnings, especially since a reputable actuary said last week that $1.81 would be enough. I would like to know the opinion of the Minister of Justice on this.