--88% or whatever. Does she not agree that 88% of those who qualify do get EI benefits, but not 88% of those who contribute? Only 40% of contributors are eligible. Those are the hard facts of the EI plan.

Why do we have a $40 billion surplus in the fund? Because only 40% of contributors get benefits because of eligibility rules. For example, you need 910 hours to qualify. That is why people cannot qualify.

Everything depends on the region where one lives. In northern Ontario or northern New Brunswick, areas with a high unemployment rate, workers can qualify, but, in Toronto, they cannot.

That is the harsh reality of the EI plan. Canada's Auditor General has said there is too much money in the fund. Will they accuse her of being a liar?

Pension Benefits Standards Act, 1985Adjournment Proceedings

7:15 p.m.

Liberal

Raymonde Folco Liberal Laval West, QC

Mr. Speaker, I did not have time, in my initial presentation, to complete my list. This list is important. It shows that the Canadian government, people on this side of the House, did a lot of work on the EI issue and are committed to the well-being of all Canadians.

Allow me to give you another equally important example. The family income supplement is designed to help low income families with children. Just recently, the level of benefits was increased from 55 per cent to 80 per cent of their income. I will not go through the whole list again. I just wanted to remind you that we made a campaign promise in 2000 and the second thing we did when we came back to the House was to get rid of the intensity rule, a measure which allowed more people access to a higher level of employment insurance benefits, in order to help them get through periods of unemployment.

Pension Benefits Standards Act, 1985Adjournment Proceedings

7:15 p.m.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Bélair)

The motion to adjourn the House is now deemed to have been adopted. Accordingly, the House stands adjourned until tomorrow at 2 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).

(The House adjourned at 7:18 p.m.)