Mr. Speaker, I certainly would not want to contradict my colleague, the Minister of Finance. Of course, I support his position.
What I can tell you is that, as minister—
Lost his last election, in 2006, with 38% of the vote.
Employment Insurance Fund November 28th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, I certainly would not want to contradict my colleague, the Minister of Finance. Of course, I support his position.
What I can tell you is that, as minister—
Literacy November 27th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, my department actually supported the development of the report to better understand literacy issues in this country. The report also recognized that Canadians have the skills needed to succeed in the advanced economy but not enough.
We are doing very well. We have the strongest literacy skills in the world. However, we need to do more. In the last budget, funding to the National Literacy Secretariat was increased to $29 million to better promote literacy. I must commend our good friend, Senator Joyce Fairbairn, who does extraordinary work in promoting literacy in this country. I thank her very much.
Powa November 27th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, let us be very clear: our government acted very quickly following the closure of the mine. In late September, I asked my department to allocate close to $3 million for active measures to help these former workers, when no other action had yet been taken.
I draw the hon. member's attention to a letter, dated the 27 and signed by the union president, which I am prepared to table in the House. It says clearly that the workers want an improved POWA, that they are not interested in a traditional POWA, only in an improved one. Therefore, this has nothing to do with what the hon. member is asking for.
Child Poverty November 27th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, the government will commit very clearly that we will have $850 million more dollars as of July 1, 1998. The Government of Canada will commit very clearly today that there will be at least another $850 million in this Parliament directed toward children. That is a lot more money than they are talking about on the other side.
We should realize that a lot of work was done in the last Parliament and will be in the next Parliament because child poverty is a major priority and concern for us.
Child Poverty November 27th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, indeed the prime minister took the leadership in June 1996. The premiers of the provinces have asked us to work very hard on child poverty. I have seen the report of Campaign 2000 and it supports the initiatives we have been taking on the national child tax benefit. It has seen what we have been able to do along with all the governments of this country to help children with CAPC, which my colleague, the Minister of Health, has been increasing thanks to last year's budget. We are working toward that.
Employment Insurance November 26th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, as members know, there is a postal strike in this country. As shown in the House today, the opposition seems to be satisfied with the answers of my colleagues.
Our department has set up 500 sites across the country where people can collect their cheques. I will look into the allegations of the member. We ask people to identify themselves for security reasons. We need to protect the integrity of the system.
I will look into the hon. member's allegation. We want to serve Canadians well.
Workers Receiving Tips November 26th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, the Government of Quebec advised us of its intention to tax tips. We then met with restaurant owners to discuss the situation.
The Minister of Finance and I have agreed to amend the employment insurance legislation by January 1, 1998, to make tips reported on a voluntary basis eligible and insurable under the employment insurance plan, without the requirement to first remit 20% of the amount to one's employer, which will make the life of restaurant owners easier. By working together, we can work in the best interests of Quebeckers.
Post-Secondary Education November 25th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for giving me the opportunity to discuss in the House this important situation for students. Our government is working very hard on it.
The Minister of Finance has already brought about a number of very important fiscal measures to help students in his budget last year, and we must thank him for that.
We are also working very hard right now on the Canada student loans program. We want to fix it. We want to improve it again. We recognized there is a problem. We are meeting right now with the provinces, with the lenders and with the students' associations that are doing great work.
Employment Insurance November 25th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, as I have said many times in the House, we have brought about the largest EI reform in 25 years. We are following this reform very closely to be sure that it serves Canadians well.
Of course, we are going to continue to monitor the situation very closely and make adjustments in accordance with what we believe to be citizens' most pressing needs.
Employment Insurance November 25th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, the opposition member should be thanking us for approving, for the fourth year in a row, a reduction in EI premiums that this year will be the largest reduction ever.
We are obviously in the midst of an extremely important EI reform. Naturally our government wishes to be prudent. It is a mark of this government that it has shown fiscal restraint in getting where it is today, and we want to be sure that the EI fund will be there, even if things were to become a little more difficult for workers generally.