Jane Stewart

[Human Resources Development, June 15th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, we remember that party talking about $3 billion being missing. We remember that party talking about $1 billion being missing. We know now that is not the case at all.

We remember members of that party talking about the fact that they are not interested in supporting Canadians in need. They said that through grants and contributions we are wasting taxpayers' dollars to support young people who want to find employment, to support Canadians with disabilities, to support Canadians who want to improve their literacy. We remember that and so do Canadians.

[Human Resources Development, June 15th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, on the contrary. It is out of absolute respect for the Canadian public that we chose to tell them that we had a problem within the department. It is out of respect for the Canadian public that we stand firm behind their values, that Canadians will support each other in times of trouble.

The member speaks about cosmetics. I just wonder how big the cosmetic bag will have to be when they try to explain to the Canadian public their membership boondoggle.

[Human Resources Development, June 15th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I am very happy to review the facts of the last six months. I want to remind the House that it was this government that brought the results of the internal audit forward, not because anybody told us we had to but because we believe in openness and transparency.

I want to remind the House that the Department of Human Resources Development Canada has committed to the Canadian public that it will fix this problem. If the opposition would just take the time to see all the changes that have occurred, it would see that we are true to our word. Finally—

[Employment Insurance, June 14th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, without question the comments from citizens across the country will be taken seriously.

[Child Poverty, June 13th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, we welcome the UNICEF report. Very clearly it suggests to all governments in Canada that we have to do better by our youngest citizens.

I hope the House will recognize that the report was based on 1994 data. We hope that the work we have undertaken with the provinces, particularly in the area of the national child benefit, will provide better results in subsequent reports.

Clearly we want to continue to work with other jurisdictions in support of Canadian children. That is why last week I spent time with my counterpart focusing specifically on the issue of Canada's children and early childhood development.

[Human Resources Development, June 13th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I repeat that in this particular case a forensic audit is under way.

I want to make clear that hon. members opposite focus on isolated cases and bring to the attention of the Canadian people individual grants and contributions, while at the same time making it absolutely clear that from their point of view there is nothing that the Government of Canada can do to help those in need. That is the real message here, and I think it has become very clear to Canadians that this is the approach of that party.

[Human Resources Development, June 13th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, with regard to this particular project, I can say that it is under review.

In the context of the questions and commentary of members of that party opposite, it is clear that from their point of view they think it is a boondoggle for Canadians to invest in improving the literacy levels of Canadians. They think it is a boondoggle for Canadians to invest in ensuring that Canadians with disabilities can participate in the economy. They think it is a boondoggle for us to support aboriginal people in getting the training they need to participate in the economy.

After five months, that is the result of the discussions here.

[Employment Insurance, June 12th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, as the House and the hon. member know, we are looking as a part of statutory requirement at the employment insurance economic zones.

We have been in a 30 day gazetted period. The information has been brought forward from different parts of Canada. The commission will now look at the interventions and the recommendations that have come from communities and it will make its final proposals in a timely fashion.

[Parental Leave, June 12th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I would remind the hon. member that our program of parental support has been in place for 30 years.

What we see today, and as a result of the last budget, is that we want to expand that benefit to all Canadians, including Quebecers.

What we also want to say is that if there is a province or territory that wants to add to those benefits, we would absolutely applaud them in doing so.

[Child Poverty, June 12th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, the government is preoccupied by issues of poverty. We are glad to see in most recent reports that the level of overall poverty and child poverty has decreased on a year over year basis.

One thing that is clear is that the best defence against poverty is a job. That is why we are also glad to see that this month's unemployment numbers are the lowest they have been in 24 years, with unemployment resting at 6.6%.