Mr. Speaker, today, we have expressed our government's strong opposition to the plan by the Liberal leader's coalition for a massive, permanent increase to EI premiums to support a 45-day work year.
At a time when Canadians can least afford it the Liberal-NDP-Bloc coalition is proposing drastic changes to the EI program which would cost Canadians and Quebeckers more than $6.6 billion annually.
Working for just 45 days and collecting EI for the rest of the year is irresponsible and offensive to hard-working Canadians.
This initiative would cost Canadian taxpayers billions and result in a massive, permanent increase in payroll taxes that would hurt workers and small businesses.
The Liberals shamefully raided the EI surplus when they were in government to pay for their pet political projects.
Our Conservative Government believes that the best solution is to get Canadians back to work.