Lost his last election, in 2006, with 38% of the vote.
Employment Insurance November 28th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, we will shortly be making some very minor administrative changes to the regulations. Now, I would like to reassure the opposition that these changes will in no way affect service to our clients and that the regulations will be
communicated to our offices promptly. But the changes are extremely minor and will not affect service to clients.
Employment Insurance November 26th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, I recently looked at this issue and I thank the hon. member for Mercier for her interest in it. I looked, among other things, at some interpretation documents concerning the act that will ensure everyone can properly inform beneficiaries in the coming weeks, since we are, of course, perfectly aware of the importance of the new interpretation.
These documents are being prepared. They are already circulating in a number of employment centres.
Job Creation November 25th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, naturally the Government of Canada and the Government of Quebec both wish to help as many unemployed people as possible re-enter the job market. One way in which our governments want to help Quebecers find work is to facilitate the exchange of information between employers and workers, by working closely with partners in the private sector.
I would like to give one example of how the governments of Canada and of Quebec have worked together, in an activity sponsored by Défi Emploi in the region of Témiscouata. In this region, the Government of Canada and the Government of Quebec have worked with local dailies, which have agreed to advertise jobs free of charge.
You will be pleased to learn that this Défi Emploi project in Témiscouata has been a success. Of the 557 jobs advertised, approximately 469 have been filled, a success rate of 84 per cent. This means that 469 men and women have thus found jobs when our governments work together.
Old Age Security November 22nd, 1996
Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada and the Department of Human Resources Development have a duty to serve Canadians well. When people apply for benefits late, that is some time after they have become entitled to such benefits, we quickly issue a cheque to them and a verification is conducted during the weeks and the months following the issuance of that first cheque. This is a perfectly normal procedure.
However, it is illegal to deliberately submit an ineligible application to the department and to take advantage of our goodwill and our good faith. We want to reassure this House and all Canadians that we have audit systems in place to detect fraudulent activities, and that these systems are constantly updated and have been greatly improved in recent years, thanks to the new technology.
Canadians should know that losing $4 million out of a total budget of $57 billion is pretty good compared to what happens in many other countries, and that we are working very hard to improve the system even more, because Canadians deserve the best.
The bottom line is that those who are entitled to a cheque must receive it as quickly as possible. Providing good service must remain our priority.
Atlantic Groundfish Strategy November 21st, 1996
Mr. Speaker, the insinuations of the member are totally wrong. When the TAGS program was set up the number of candidates who would actually require it were underestimated. That was done by the previous government, as the member knows very well.
The fact that the number of people who actually need it had been underestimated caused a funding problem that we are addressing. It is an important one at this time.
Atlantic Groundfish Strategy November 21st, 1996
Mr. Speaker, we are fully aware that the new system, starting with employment insurance, is causing some disruptions because of the change in the number of weeks of required employment. I take note of the question and I will look into it again.
Singer Company November 20th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, I said exactly the same thing a moment ago. I do not see why the hon. member claims I changed my tune since yesterday.
I said that I was told the department's lawyers had had discussions regarding this very important issue, which we care about. Following these discussions, they are to report to me by the end of the week. I will then be pleased to report to you, Mr. Speaker, and to the hon. member.
Singer Company November 20th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, I was given information to the contrary. I was told that, by the end of the week, I would receive a report from our lawyers regarding this issue. I will be pleased to inform the hon. member accordingly.
Employment Insurance November 20th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, first of all, I would suggest to the hon. member for Mercier that the announcement was not made twice; the Minister of Finance and I did it jointly, in front of the same cameras.
We did announce-and the Minister of Finance may want to comment on this later-a five cent reduction. For the third consecutive year, our government has reduced employment insurance premiums, which is absolutely remarkable since they had risen for years.
I would also submit to the hon. member for Mercier that another program, a program for small business, was announced yesterday. Some 900,000 eligible small businesses will not have to pay any employment insurance premiums on behalf of new employees in 1997. This means that any small business in Canada that hires a new employee will not pay employment insurance premiums in 1997 and only 75 per cent of the premiums in 1998 for that employee. That is what we are doing to promote employment. That is what we announced yesterday.
Singer Company November 19th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, we have been in touch with counsel for the retired Singer employees, and our lawyers are reviewing with them the implications of these contracts. As I pointed out before, we will give an answer as soon as possible, once our lawyers and counsellors have decided what they can do about this difficult case.