Mr. Speaker, last Saturday, in New Richmond, people from all walks of life from the Gaspé, Magdalen Islands, Lower St. Lawrence and Acadie regions sent an appeal to the Government of Canada.
People from these regions want to live, not just survive. They are saying to the federal government “Stop impoverishing those of us who live in coastal and forest regions and depend on seasonal work. The spring gap is waiting for us”.
These people are demanding that an independent employment insurance fund be established and administered by representatives of the contributors, that the employment insurance program be improved, and that the EI surplus be given back to them.
To this, the Minister of Finance replies contemptuously but shamelessly “You little people from the regions, wait some more. Ottawa still needs to take your employment insurance money to appear to be resolving the crisis in the health care system, to alleviate the plight of high income taxpayers, and to put Quebec in its place”.