moved for leave to introduce Bill C-271, an act to amend that the Employment Insurance Act (self-employed persons).
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be able to introduce this bill, which would allow self-employed persons to become eligible for employment insurance on a voluntary basis.
There have been a lot of changes in our society, in the labour market, and there are now a lot of self-employed workers, particularly women, who are living in difficult financial situations.
By making them eligible for employment insurance, the government would be contributing to stabilizing their level of income to enable them to take advantage of the economic growth in our society and, finally, to permit better distribution of wealth.
This is why I consider it important for self-employed people to be eligible for employment insurance on a voluntary basis.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)