Lucienne Robillard

[Youth Employment, May 9th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, the program criteria have not changed in the least, neither has the methodology. It is tied to the number of young people present in each riding and the number who are unemployed. New data was collected during the 2001 census. In addition, there are now more ridings in the country, and some riding boundaries have been changed. Some variations have thus been observed.

We are prepared to provide all the figures available to show that the methodology has indeed been followed.

[Human Resources and Skills Development, May 6th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, transparency and value for money are the objectives for the call for proposal process. Let me say very clearly that the volunteer sector accepts those principles. The problem was and is with the implementation of the process.

We all know that right now the standing committee on human resources is looking at the issue. It is doing valuable work. It is working on the report and I will look for the recommendations.

More than that, we have already improved the process. I met with volunteer sector members. We hope we will be able to do something soon.

[Employment Insurance, May 5th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, we have received the recommendations of the committee of this House and of the Liberal caucus group. We have made significant improvements—especially the 14 best weeks.

In New Brunswick, in fact, workers and employers celebrated this decision by the government.

[Employment Insurance, May 5th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, first, the program my colleague has just announced was established in cooperation with the country's unions.

Second, the employment insurance program has been improved each year in order to meet workers' needs. Again this year, we made improvements through the budget currently before this House. We try to meet workers' needs regularly, and do so in cooperation with all partners in the community, including employers.

[Patent Act, May 3rd, 2005]

moved the second reading of, and concurrence in, amendments made by the Senate to Bill C-29, an act to amend the Patent Act.

[Textile Industry, May 2nd, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to the work of the member for Brome—Missisquoi, who is working very closely with people in the textile industry in the Eastern Townships.

I would also like to thank the member for Ahuntsic, who, on behalf of the Government of Canada, announced $5.9 million for the Textiles Human Resources Council . The Council brings together employers, workers and unions, everyone at the table, to try to help develop this industry, so important here in Canada.

[Employment Insurance, May 2nd, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Québécois is against the current budget, yet there are four measures in it specifically to help workers. The Prime Minister said the employment insurance program needed to be adjusted and that is precisely what we are doing.

Naturally, the Bloc Québécois could never accept the budget even though there are some very good measures in it for our workers, including in Quebec.

[Employment Insurance, May 2nd, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, in any event, the Bloc Québécois is against the budget, regardless of all its good measures, including those to help our workers.

The primary goal is to provide employment for all our workers in Canada. That is why it is perfectly normal to put more money into providing proper training for people to get competitive jobs in Canada.

[Employment Insurance, April 15th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, we worked on the transformation of services to give citizens the choice as to which channel that they wanted to use to be in contact with the Government of Canada. It could be by phone, by the web, in person or by mail. All the services are designed right now to answer those choices.

[Human Resources and Skills Development, April 12th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, the request for proposal process is a very transparent process to ensure that we receive value for money each time we sign a contract with any organization, including a community organization in the volunteer sector.

We have heard about some difficulties they are having with the new process. We are working very closely with the volunteer sector to improve the system. I think no one is against the principle to be very transparent and to have good contracts with those organizations.

I can assure the members of the House that we will work very closely with the volunteer sector to have a better organization.