Mr. Speaker, the member's figure of 40% is slightly off base. In terms of his province, New Brunswick, the figure is actually 75%. It shows that the system is working for him. Instead of burying our heads in the sand, we have tried to put a system in place that gives people the skills and the opportunity to get back into the workforce rather than to the continue the cycle of being on EI and using it as an income supplement.
In the House of Commons on June 1st, 1998. See this statement in context.