Madam Speaker, I want to go back to my colleague, the parliamentary secretary, because he says that he understands our problem, since he had the same one. In the parliamentary committee, Liberals promoted changes and made recommendations.
But today, when he talks about ACOA programs, he says that this has allowed for a reduction of 2.8% in the unemployment rate, that this has created 62,000 jobs in the Atlantic region. But this does not change the problem in the short term. This does not change the problem: starting January or February, people will have to go on welfare. This is where they are going now. This is what I want to point out to the parliamentary secretary. What happens in that case?
What happens to Newfoundland which has the problems we do in Atlantic Canada? We come from an area where there are seasonal jobs. I understand that we have to work on economic development. I understand that we have to put infrastructure in place. I understand, that we have to create business where people will be able to get jobs.
In the meantime employment insurance belongs to the working people of the country. It belongs to them when they lose their jobs. It is not acceptable that they are not allowed to have employment insurance. It is there for that purpose. We should work together for the infrastructure and put people back to work. That is what I believe.