House of Commons photoWon her last election, in 2006, with 46% of the vote.
Employment Insurance November 23rd, 2005
Mr. Speaker, first of all, I am pleased the Auditor General has recognized that our new EI premium rate setting process that we put in place in budget 2005 balances the inflows with the outflows.
The hon. member has asked about the 12 week program. We have moved to the best 14 weeks. We met our deadline. That should improve EI payments to those workers in seasonal industry jobs.
Employment Insurance November 21st, 2005
Mr. Speaker, the government is very sensitive to the needs of older workers. We have established a working committee in conjunction with Quebec that meets about every three weeks to come up with its final report. I am expecting that report this week and, in fact, I have invited the hon. member to review the report with us, to work together with us to ensure we develop a comprehensive strategy to address the needs of older workers.
Employment Insurance November 21st, 2005
Mr. Speaker, in the last budget we made significant improvements to the EI fund including, which I think it is very important to note, the establishment of an independent EI commission to set those rates independently and ensure the inflows equal the outflows so that we can reduce the cost for both workers and for business.
Employment Insurance November 16th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for highlighting all the good work we have done with respect to evolving EI, in particular the establishment of a commission that sets the rate independently. It has lowered the rate to $1.87, which will allow both workers and business to be more competitive and reduce the costs.
Human Resources November 16th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, this is not a failure. This a new program that was designed with a greater potential uptake than was actually received at the end of the day. We are looking at the program to expand the definition and, quite frankly, if we do have an election, this is one of the programs that may be compromised.
Human Resources and Skills Development November 15th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank the hon. member for his hard work as chair of the post-secondary education caucus.
In today's labour market, a post-secondary education is essential for prosperity and for growth. Statistics show that two-thirds of all future jobs will require a post-secondary education.
I am pleased by the investments outlined yesterday: $550 million to extend the Canada access grant for low income students; $2.19 billion to assist post-secondary students by addressing access and affordability; $210 million to expand the number of Canada graduate scholarships available; and $150 million to support international education. An investment in students is an--
Human Resources and Skills Development November 4th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, any time there are a large number of layoffs this is something that we are very concerned about and we take very seriously. The department goes into the workplace and works with the employers and the employees to ensure that we can do everything possible, including EI temporary income support to make it easier for those workers.
Having said that, we are also very concerned about the upcoming skills shortages. We have launched a workplace skills strategy, which includes apprenticeship training programs and also workplace partner panels, where industry comes together with labour to devise that strategy so that it makes sense and is more relevant in today's workplace.
Human Resources and Skills Development November 3rd, 2005
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. member for her very important question that addresses the upcoming skilled worker shortage. We want to ensure that we have enough skilled workers, so that Canada can compete in this competitive global economy.
We have already committed $125 million to a workplace skills strategy. I am pleased to remind the House that recently we launched the workplace partners panel, which is co-chaired by CME President Perrin Beatty and CLC President Ken Georgetti. It will bring business closer together with labour. We will have regional task forces. They will bring forward programs for each region to better address the future upcoming skilled worker shortage.
Question No. 197 November 2nd, 2005
Mr. Speaker, I am informed as follows:
Human Resources and Skills Development October 31st, 2005
Mr. Speaker, the compassionate care program is a really important program. We are going to expand the definition of who the dying person can recommend to look after him or her in his or her dying moments. We are going to take a look at it and changes should be coming very soon.