Lost his last election, in 2006, with 38% of the vote.
Employment Insurance November 19th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, obviously I did not know the member was referring to that very public report, if the member was asking for it. I thought the member was referring to a more specific piece of information.
If the member is referring to that report, I can say the government has already reduced the EI premium four times. Her government was about to put it higher once again. That is what it wanted. Thank God we have been around for awhile.
Employment Insurance November 19th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, I am not exactly sure to what information the hon. member is referring. If she shared it with me I could give her a more appropriate answer.
This is a very important file for the government as well as for the Conservative Party. We could have a good discussion on this very important issue.
Post-Secondary Education November 18th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for her very timely question.
Our government does recognize the financial difficulties of students and it is taking action. Yesterday and today I have been hosting the first ever national conference of all stakeholders addressing student loans. We have had the students' associations and the association of the bankers. I can state that we have gained very good insights from these people. We will be taking these very good ideas and will be building these recommendations into good strategies for students.
Employment Insurance November 18th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, of course we hope very much that there will not be a postal strike but indeed for people who are to receive the benefits, my department will do its very best to deliver all payments as usual as we do as the posts are still working for the time being.
Former Singer Employees November 18th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, we are acting totally responsibly. I have instructed our lawyers to act diligently and quickly, and we are not in a position to settle out of the court because we cannot acknowledge a responsibility that was not ours with respect to the Singer pension fund.
The Economy November 6th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for his very important question.
The government has a very important role to play to level the playing field between the economic health and the social health of this country.
Under the leadership of the Prime Minister and with the hard work of the finance minister our fiscal house is in order. That allows us to have surpluses in the country which we will be investing toward children, in the national child benefit, toward programs for persons with disabilities and toward the aboriginal head start program in order to have a better society.
Fisheries November 5th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, my colleague, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans met with them yesterday. My parliamentary secretary, the member for Kenora—Rainy River, met with them today. My parliamentary secretary will be visiting them.
I think it would be irresponsible to pit one region against another and make comparisons. The situation in B.C. is serious but is on a different scale than the one we have in Atlantic Canada. I think the member will grant that. My department has already invested in a number of programs for the communities in British Columbia—
Bc Mine November 4th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, each government is free to decide on its course of action. In the past, the Government of Quebec decided to intervene in the shipbuilding and clothing industries. It did so in its capacity as the Government of Quebec and is perfectly free to do so again.
I have responsibility for certain active measure funds and that is what I am offering them. The POWA was phased out one year ago and the workers themselves said it did not interest them unless it was improved, which would mean it was no longer the same program.
Bc Mine November 4th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, it is completely wrong to say that this government is turning a deaf ear.
Our government was the first to react to the situation of the workers who lost their jobs at the mine, the first, in late September, to put an offer of a package of up to $3 million in active job measures for workers on the table.
There was excellent news in the region yesterday. There was talk of Noranda creating 350 jobs in Asbestos. Clearly, things are happening. Our government wants to help these people re-enter the job market.
Education November 3rd, 1997
Mr. Speaker, this is absolutely wrong. We are working very hard these days talking with lenders, talking with the provinces, and talking with student associations. We are well aware of the problem many students have in being able to borrow money. We are addressing the situation by talking with everyone that has a say in the matter.
We need an accurate and helpful solution, not just this kind of statement that does not make any sense.