Mr. Speaker, I would certainly concur with the member. New immigrants are particularly vulnerable in a marketplace where job loss can be very vague in terms of corporations that pull out of a community.
I have a fairly sizeable garment industry in my riding of Vancouver East. It is a very competitive business. I know there are new immigrants who work very hard in these industries, yet they can be thrown out of work in an instant.
I agree with the hon. member that the study done by the committee highlighted the issues facing older workers. There has been no response from the federal government in terms of an infrastructure or support for older workers to make sure they are not the first to be laid off when they still have family responsibilities or mortgage responsibilities.
As has been noted, the employment insurance system is a joke. We are talking about older workers who may have paid into that system and have paid their insurance for decades. Yet when they become unemployed they may not be able to take advantage of it because the criteria have become so strict. I find that a real tragedy.
Bringing in a budget is an opportunity to use public policy and use a budget to deal with these inequities within our society. We have to make sure that older workers, new immigrant workers or people who are trying to get into the workforce have a fair opportunity. They have to have the proper kinds of support and programs for their families so that all people can prosper and benefit.