Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind my Conservative colleague that there is no mention of the employment insurance account in the Speech from the Throne. Since the Conservative Party took office, contributions paid by employees and employers have allowed the government to accumulate $1.6 billion in surplus.
There is nothing in the Speech from the Throne about an independent employment insurance account, and there was no mention of it in my hon. colleague's speech either. An independent employment insurance account would be available to employers and employees to increase benefits and reduce the number of weeks people need to qualify for longer benefit periods.
What does the hon. member have to say to the unemployed in Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel and to my colleagues here: the hon. members for Gatineau, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, Rivière-du-Nord, Terrebonne—Blainville, Laval, Brome—Missisquoi and Beauharnois—Salaberry?
What does one tell people who have lost their jobs? We had been asking the Liberals since 1997 for changes to the program, including an independent account and a program for older workers who lose their jobs.
What do the Conservatives have to say about the fact that since coming to power, they have accumulated $1.6 billion? That money belongs to working people and the unemployed. The Conservatives have not said a word about the unemployed, they have not helped them, and they have not improved the program as requested by the Coalition des Sans-Chemise.