Jane Stewart

[Guaranteed Income Supplement, May 2nd, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, as far as retroactivity is concerned, our program is as generous as similar programs in Quebec, if not more generous.

For example, family allowances and drug plans have retroactivity of one year. Others, such as their rent subsidy, housing, and employment assistance programs have no retroactivity at all. We are, of course, doing much the same thing.

[Softwood Lumber, May 2nd, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member will be glad to know that the employment insurance system is there and is working well as we speak.

The hon. member will be glad to know that, working with the province of British Columbia, the province has identified $13 million from its labour market agreement that will be directly focused on the softwood lumber industry. The hon. member will be interested to know that our work sharing programs are there. We are working directly with individual companies to apply that program wherever we can. The hon. member will be glad to know that we are monitoring the circumstances on a daily basis and where it is required, we will take action.

[Question No. 129, May 1st, 2002]

On March 19, 2002 the hon. Minister of Human Resources Development, HRDC, announced the $24 million dollar support fund allocated over the next two years to official language minority communities across Canada under Labour Market Partnerships.

The creation of the National Committee for Canadian Francophonie Human Resources Development and the National Human Resources Development Committee for the English Linguistic Minority is a tangible demonstration of the commitment made by the Government of Canada to help official language communities enhance their potential, accelerate their socioeconomic development, build their community capacity and make optimum use of their labour force.

This funding has been reviewed to ensure compliance with the administration of the Department's grant and contribution programs. This funding was provided for in the December 2001 federal budget and is therefore built into the existing financial framework.

Human Resources Development Canada, HRDC, will be working closely with the National Committee for Canadian Francophonie Human Resources Development and the National Human Resources Development Committee for the English Linguistic Minority to enable the committees to implement their strategic plans to promote human resources development, employability and capacity building in Canada’s linguistic minority communities. This funding complements the funding from existing programs at HRDC and other federal departments.

The support fund renewal is for a two year period in the amount of $12 million per year.

[Committees of the House, May 1st, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 109 I am pleased to submit two copies, in both official languages, of the government's response to the sixth report of the Standing Committee on Human Resources Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities entitled “The Guaranteed Income Supplement: the duty to reach all”.

[Labour Force, April 29th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I did have the pleasure of hosting my colleagues, the ministers of labour and employment from the G-8 nations as well as representatives from the OECD and the International Labour Organization to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing our labour markets in the 21st century.

We talked about the importance of continuing to build strategies to make sure those who are under-represented in today's labour force have more access and opportunity.

We talked about the importance of enhancing the culture of lifelong learning in our jurisdictions and as well about the importance of better recognizing credentials from one jurisdiction to another.

It is a priority for the government to ensure that our labour force reaches its full potential. These discussions--

[Employment Insurance, April 29th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, the monies that I identified in my first answer are monies that are there for pilot projects that are specifically able to be flexible to the needs of individual older workers community by community.

We have a positive working relationship with the Government of Quebec. I hope the hon. member will be speaking to it about the importance of developing programs for the workers of Murdochville. This is exactly the approach the Government of Canada has taken in this regard.

[Employment Insurance, April 29th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member will know that the Government of Canada identified $30 million to use in partnership with the provinces to focus specifically on issues facing older workers. Eleven million dollars of that is invested with the province of Quebec.

I would hope the hon. member would also be encouraging his colleagues there with the Government of Quebec to work with us to look at opportunities in the area of Murdochville in this vein.

[Employment Insurance, April 29th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the government knows and appreciates how significantly important employment insurance income support is for workers who find themselves in the position of being laid off. We have also recognized the importance of making changes to the employment insurance program, like repealing the intensity law.

I would again remind the House that it was the Bloc that voted against those changes that were made specifically in support of seasonal workers in this area and others.

[Employment Insurance, April 29th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize and thank the member for Gaspé--Îles-de-la-Madeleine for working with us and making sure we clearly understand the impact this foundry closure will have on employees in Murdochville and the surrounding area.

I will continue to work with the member of parliament; with my colleague, the minister responsible for economic development in the province of Quebec; and with our provincial partners to make sure all government services are there, that workers have access to them and that those who are eligible have readily apparent connections with the programs that are important to them.

[Volunteer Award, April 24th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to pay tribute to two of Canada's 6.5 million volunteers. Thanks to Patricia Anzovino's efforts at Casa el Norte, a transition home for refugees fleeing persecution in their homeland, over 10,000 refugees have received food and shelter.

Samuel Bowman's efforts, as co-founder of Pathways, have ensured that thousands of Canada's children, youth and families have benefited from prenatal and postnatal nutrition programs, homeless drop-in centres and childcare services.

Our thanks go out to them for a lifetime of commitment as volunteers.