Mr. Speaker, the hon. member's constituent in Kamloops is absolutely right on. The reason we have a surplus is that the EI fund has gone into surplus and that goes into the general revenues. What should be happening is that the benefits should be expanded. Only about 35% of the people who are now unemployed qualify for benefits, under 30% of women and 15% of young people. We should expand the benefits like we used to have them a number of years ago.
In the House of Commons on February 29th, 2000. See this statement in context.