House of Commons photoWon her last election, in 2000, with 56% of the vote.
Employment Insurance February 12th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, this is the first time I have had the opportunity to congratulate the hon. member on her new role as critic to the department. I hope she has as much fun with the files as I have had.
She will be interested to know that in the department we have a 94% success rate in processing employment insurance claims. That is not good enough. We want to be 100% on the money, and that means working with employers, employees and staff in the department. We will continue to work in that regard.
Poverty February 7th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, let us be very clear that on this side of the House we are pleased to be working with provinces right across the country, including New Democratic governments in the hon. member's province of British Columbia and those in Saskatchewan and Manitoba that believe, as we do, that investing together in the national child benefit, increasing the number of services available to low income families in support of their children and investing $2.2 billion in the lives of our youngest citizens are precisely the things we need to do in a modern Canada to reduce poverty.
Poverty February 7th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, as does the hon. member, we welcome the work of the Vanier Institute. Indeed we recognize that some work has been done toward the effort to reduce poverty in Canada.
The last thing we want is a society of haves and have nots. That is why it continues to be important for us to invest in the national child benefit. That is why it continues to be important for us to recognize in the employment insurance regime that low income families should receive an 80% benefit, not just the 55% benefit. That is why it is important for us to focus on our youngest citizens, our children.
Employment Insurance February 6th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, it seems like the hon. member is asking us to review the process by which employment insurance premiums are set. In the bill before the House that is precisely what we are recommending.
Surely he will support that bill when it is in committee and we will move on.
Employment Insurance February 6th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, let me remind the hon. member again of a number of things. First and foremost, unemployment numbers in Canada today are at record lows. More people are working, more people are paying premiums and that is good for us.
I would remind the hon. member that there have been times in the recent past where we have been in deficit and so we have to manage that account wisely.
I would also remind the hon. member that there is a bill before the House that will allow us to review the premium setting process. I am sure he will want to support that bill.
Employment Insurance February 6th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to remind the hon. member that every year since taking office the government has reduced employment insurance premiums. Today the savings to Canadian employers and employees is $6.4 billion.
I would like to add that in the House there is a bill that specifically deals with the auditor general's recommendation that we review the rate setting process. I again ask the hon. member to enjoin her party to get this bill passed very quickly so we can do just that.
Employment Insurance February 6th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, the auditor general raised this question before the Standing Committee on Finance. The committee suggested that we review the rate setting procedure with regard to EI premiums.
The hon. member will know that the bill before the House actually proposes a two year review of the rate setting process. I am sure she will want it passed and that she will support it.
International Boundary Waters Treaty Act February 5th, 2001
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-6, an act to amend the International Boundary Waters Treaty Act.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Employment Insurance February 5th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to section 3(3) of the Employment Insurance Act, I am pleased to table, in both official languages, two copies of the annual employment insurance monitoring and assessment report for the year 2000.
Parental Leave February 5th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, the government understands the challenges that young families face while they work to try to ensure that they are self-sufficient and caring for their children.
We have taken dramatic action by doubling parental benefits for all Canadians. As we said earlier, if the province of Quebec wishes to do more, we encourage it to do so.