Mr. Speaker, I realize why the hon. member is speaking today. There was no room for him in the national assembly. They shipped him to Ottawa. This is why we are talking about federal transfers.
Federal transfers are sent to the province in an effort to improve the situation of Quebecers. When they ask for an independent fund, we think about the $840 million that the Quebec government has left untouched in a building on the main street of Toronto.
There is something truly deplorable about this independent fund. Perhaps the money will be used for tax reductions, health and education. The one really important thing is the retroactive nature of the bill, which will help the unemployed.
Let me get back to Loto-Quebec. They are talking about an independent fund. Let us compare Loto-Quebec and Canada's employment insurance fund. Loto-Quebec is a $3.5 billion business. Indeed, if we take its annual profits of $3.5 billion and multiply them by 10, we get $35 billion. This is what they get in Quebec over a 10 year period with a phantom account. To be sure, the example comes from somewhere. They claim that it is not the same thing. It is the taxpayers' money.
It is true that the federal government does not contribute to the employment insurance fund. It is our workers who do so. The decisions are made by a commission and they involve employers and employees.
There are things that need to be improved. We will improve them together, along with the opposition members who are here.
Again I come back to the comparison between Loto-Québec and the $35 billion fund that is self-sustaining and at arm's length. They say that is where the surplus should be put. Multiplying the $10 million a day that Loto-Quebec makes by the number of days in a year gives $3.5 billion a year. Over 10 years, it gives $35 billion.
In any case, the people opposite have been criticizing me for a while already. The Bloc members in front of me seem to be having fun. They are smiling. The five of them are shouting like ten.
What is really important is trying to find solutions together for the unemployed. It is not easy. Looking at people who are dealing with the unemployed in my area, such as Laurier Gilbert from Val-d'Or, or Vital Gilbert from Rouyn-Noranda, they too are trying to find solutions.
They settle cases at the unemployment arbitration board. They came to Ottawa. They criticized the government. They were right on many points. It is thanks to them that we changed the rules last year. It is because the unemployed were able to shake up the government. They will vote on that. However, it is together that we will try to improve the lot of the unemployed.
We do not want them to be unemployed. What is important is that these people keep their job. That is what is important. Looking at all the programs that we have here available for the unemployed, I feel it is thanks to the money flowing from legislation like Bill C-2.
It has been a pleasure to speak during this debate. I would like Loto-Québec to give its $10 million a day to Quebec taxpayers.