Jane Stewart

[Fisheries, May 7th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, it is because the employment insurance fund is in such good shape that the benefits will be there, no only for fishers but for fish plant workers.

I would remind the hon. member that every year the Government of Canada transfers $90 million to the jurisdiction of New Brunswick so that it can deal with issues precisely like this one.

[Tourist Industry, May 5th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, first and foremost I would like to apprise the hon. member of the fact that the employment insurance program is there, is serving and will serve fully 88% of those Canadians in paid employment who might have need of the benefits.

In addition, I had the pleasure today of meeting with industry leaders in the Scarborough—Agincourt area talking particularly about the employment insurance system and the work sharing opportunity that exists for them to help retain their employees while the employment insurance system pays for some of their income requirements. This program is there and it is available. I would encourage those in the tourism industry to contact our offices to see if it would apply in their circumstance.

[Employment Insurance, May 5th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I am very glad that the hon. member has pointed out the flexibility that the government has shown. In fact, we had transitional measures put in place for those communities that were suffering and wanting to deal with changes in employment levels.

I am quite happy to convey to the House the successes we are having in those communities in diversifying the work opportunities that are there. I fully expect that those partnerships will continue.

[Employment Insurance, May 5th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I would reiterate again that the employment insurance program and system is there and is working well. In addition to that, on this side of the House, we appreciate that it is work that Canadians want, and that is why my department along with partners in ACOA and other federal government departments are working community by community to help those communities to diversify the opportunities to work. I am sure the hon. member would agree that what Canadians really want is work, not employment insurance benefits.

[Fisheries, May 5th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, with regard to the employment insurance system, we are glad the system is in place and it is working well for the majority of Canadians for whom it was designed.

I would remind him that the Government of Canada transfers significant funds to provincial jurisdictions for local labour market development initiatives, including the hon. member's own area.

With specific regard to older workers, we have specific projects in place with the provinces that direct their attention specifically to the circumstances facing older workers.

[Health, April 29th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I am happy to clarify for the hon. member two things.

First of all, the department acted expeditiously in waiving the two week waiting period for those who were under quarantine due to SARS. This allows them access to employment insurance immediately as opposed to waiting for two weeks.

Recently, the Prime Minister has been concerned about health care professionals and I think the whole House would join in congratulating Canadian health care professionals who have served us very well in this crisis.

For any who have not got the required hours to obtain special benefits, they will be provided with them.

[Human Resources Development Canada, April 29th, 2003]

Absolutely, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure to pay tribute to this year's two recipients of the Thérèse Casgrain Volunteer Award.

Margaret MacGee of London, Ontario is a founding member of the Ontario Block Parent program, which has helped to make communities safer for over 30 years.

Desmond Dyllon of Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador has helped provide aid to thousands of victims of disaster situations through is work with the Canadian Red Cross.

Thanks to the exceptional contribution of volunteers like them, Canada is one of the best countries in the world.

[Canada Airports Act, April 28th, 2003]

moved that Bill C-27, an act respecting airport authorities and other airport operators and amending other acts, be read the second time and referred to a committee.

[Question No. 158, April 28th, 2003]

Under the capacity building component of the aboriginal human resources development strategy and under the information exchange section of the aboriginal human resources development agreements, AHRDAs, Human Resources Development Canada worked with AHRDA holders to develop web-based tools to improve accountability and results reporting of AHRDA holders. The ARO Suite is a package of web-based tools for AHRDA holders to seamlessly perform the following functions: screen clients to determine EI funding eligibility; case manage client files; manage the financial aspects of training and other service contracts; report results to HRDC through the data gateway, complies with Gs and Cs audit requirements.

Presently, the ARO Suite of web applications is being successfully piloted with two AHRDAs: the North Vancouver Island Aboriginal Training Society, remote location, and the Vancouver Friendship Centre, urban location. No decision has yet been made on the deployment to other organizations. Dependent on the results of the pilots, HRDC will then review the feasibility for use by other parties.

[Persons with Disabilities, April 28th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, the government remains committed to working with Canadians with disabilities to ensure that they have full access to the programs of this country as citizens.

I want to applaud the government, in its most recent budget, for making significant changes that recognize, for example, that it is more expensive for parents to raise children with disabilities and providing additional support to them through specific supplements to the national child benefit.

The hon. member can rest assured that the government is working across departments in support of Canadians with disabilities and will continue to do that.