Mr. Speaker, I am appealing to you in the hope that the federal government will once and for all understand the true needs of workers who are losing their jobs. On behalf of all those who have already been penalized upon losing their jobs, I am asking that the two week waiting period be eliminated.
It is inconceivable that these people, who pay premiums, must wait two weeks before receiving benefits and that they never receive anything for these two weeks.
Rather than creating a Liberal-Conservative alliance to set up a panel that will only report back in the fall, it was vital for Liberal and Conservative members to take immediate action in the true interests of workers.
A petition calling for the elimination of the waiting period is being circulated in Quebec, including in my riding of Berthier—Maskinongé. Thousands of people have already signed it. Citizens want change now.