Bonnie Brown

[Human Resources Development, March 27th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I actually do not know the answer, but I will be happy to check on this project with the officials and get back to the member opposite.

[Human Resources Development, March 27th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I can assure the House that the number of ongoing police investigations this year is consistent with the number of investigations over past years.

Several of the current investigations have been ongoing for quite some time, certainly prior to the release of the audit. As soon as any irregularities are identified, appropriate action is taken in accordance with guidelines.

In many of the cases HRDC initiated the referrals to the RCMP, but not in all cases. I would suggest that if the member has questions about police investigations he ask the police.

[Human Resources Development, March 27th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, it surprises me that a former crown attorney would ask questions of this sort. It is totally inappropriate for us to comment on details of any particular case because it is up to the police to comment on their own investigations.

As part of the six point action plan all project files are being reviewed by officials, overpayments will be collected, and any wrongdoings will be referred to the police. Certainly I do not want to be a party to getting in the way of the police.

[Human Resources Development, March 27th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, again the member is making allegations. If he wants to make allegations he should bring them forward.

Our evidence suggests that there is absolutely no basis for a police investigation. If he wants to make allegations, let him do that and we will investigate.

[Human Resources Development, March 27th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I do not know how many times we have to repeat the same thing.

There has to be a basis upon which to call for a police investigation. Our review of this file suggests there is no basis. We cannot go out on a limb, calling for police for no reason. That would be ridiculous.

[Human Resources Development, March 27th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, the answer is no.

The reason we have not called for a police investigation is because there would be preliminary steps taken before that. The first one would be the need to establish an overpayment. We have been through the invoices and the receipts. They match the funds we have given. Therefore there is no need to establish an overpayment.

Without an overpayment we would not even order a forensic audit, much less call the police. The idea is nonsense.

[Human Resources Development, March 27th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, we are having a display of people taking items out of context in what the auditor general said. He actually said that he believed the six point plan was a very thorough plan for corrective action. As we conduct our own audit in HRDC we intend to assess the department's progress in implementing this plan.

As for the police, he did not say that was the only way to get to the bottom of the problem. They are misquoting him again.

[Employment, March 24th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, all initiatives under the student summer job action are designed to create or help students get employment.

It is my understanding that the deadline for applications under this program is March 31, 2000, the same as it has been every other year.

[Employment Insurance, March 24th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, it is very difficult to make the argument that as a group frequent claimants and seasonal workers have been treated unfairly.

This year's report indicates that frequent claimants such as seasonal workers benefit from the hours based system. They now have an average entitlement period of 32.8 weeks, three weeks higher than it was before the reform to EI.

Even with the intensity rule in place, the average weekly benefit rate of frequent claimants exceeded the average for all claimants of regular benefits by 8.2%. They are having higher benefits and they are having them for a longer period.

[Employment Insurance, March 24th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, for the NDP even good news is turned into bad news. The fact is that this report reflects the strong performance of the economy and the creation of 400,000 new jobs last year, of which 85% were full time. Today the economy is stronger than ever and the unemployment rate is at its lowest level since 1976.