Madam Speaker, I find it somewhat ironic that the member would stand today after a very successful convention in London where it was decided to reform the party into change. Obviously the old Reform Party which has been around for 10 years was not working very well so now it is in the process of changing.
Based on that I want to get the new Reform Party on record on where it stands on this issue. The member wants to know whether there is such a thing as an EI account. We know there is an EI account because we know by law that this fund is set up to help unemployed workers through active measures, benefits and a combination of income support when people are laid off. There are also some active measures to help people find jobs because the economy is changing very rapidly and those changes were needed.
Most economists on Bay Street say the number one choice in making cuts to put more money in people's pockets is to cut personal income tax, not to cut EI premiums. EI premiums have a very limited effect and the majority, except for one NDP economist in the Globe and Mail , suggested that premium cuts are the way to go.
Even though the government has cut premiums substantially, they were rising to $3.30 under the Tories, they are now down to $2.70. The government is on target to reduce premiums more this year. I want the member to be aware of two things.
There is an independent commission that does review it. It has representatives of labour and employers. It makes recommendations to the minister of human resources and to the Minister of Finance. The member was incorrect in that. There is such a commission today.
Which is the new Reform Party's position on this issue?