Mr. Speaker, I have listened to what the member has said. Some of what he has said makes good sense.
However, there was a provision for improvements to the EI system, which we put before the House for a vote. It included a five week extension that would help approximately 400,000 people, a work-sharing agreement that would help approximately 80,000 people and skills upgrading and training that would assist about 190,000 people. That was about a $4.5 billion stimulus injection through improvements to the system and the member's party voted against each and every one of those proposals.
How can the member justify that at this time in the economy? Why would he not have supported those absolutely positive initiatives to help a good number of people?