Mr. Speaker, it is true that the government controls the plan. It controls it to such an extent that it has accumulated $34 billion in surpluses since 1993.
Today there is $34 billion in the government coffers and there will be a further $6 billion this year. With such an increase, and even being very cautious, it would take close to a decade to wipe out the surpluses. I would like the government to be aware of that and stop misleading us.
My question is straightforward. I understand that assessments are conducted every month. How is it then that in my area where the unemployment rate is on the rise, having reached 15.1% on October 8, recipients have seen their benefits cut by two weeks?
Claimants who used to be eligible for the minimum number of weeks, 32, are now only eligible for 30 weeks. Those who were eligible for 40 weeks are now down to 38 weeks. Is it not a blatant contradiction and an obvious example of the government's bad faith in this matter?