Mr. Speaker, in terms of the employment insurance program we have made major changes to it.
One of the most important and fundamental changes we made was that people who were working for shorter periods of time could accumulate employment insurance benefits. That is something which is going to help ease the burden for those who may lose their jobs at this particular time.
In terms of actual job losses, I am not taking credit for this but looking realistically at what has happened, one of the most exciting things that has happened since we started to put this nation's finances in order has been the huge increase in the number of jobs. Over two million new jobs have been created by the private sector here in Canada. This is critical because the best social program is a job.
The member is right in that we have seen the rates go up slightly from a low of 6.8%. The increased benefits that are available under the EI program are helpful to those people who have lost their jobs. Whenever anyone loses a job, it is the most difficult thing that anyone anywhere has to face because it does have human consequences.
The member mentioned the EI premiums. When we took office in 1993, the premiums were at $3.07 and were heading toward $3.30. They have come down every year since then, saving employers and contributors to that fund a total of $6.8 billion a year. I do not take a back seat to anyone when it comes to what our government has done to cut employment insurance premiums.