House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2025, with 51% of the vote.
COVID-19 Pandemic and Other Matters August 12th, 2020
Mr. Chair, the minister said that she would get us at least a ballpark. Is it in deficit? Is it a major deficit? We get zero answers from the government. It is expecting to do a major transition to a new EI system and it is giving the Canadian public zero details as to the status of the fund. What is going on over on that side of the House?
COVID-19 Pandemic and Other Matters August 12th, 2020
Mr. Chair, a massive EI change is fast approaching, with very little details, and the government also refuses to tell us what the status of the EI operating account is. I have asked before and the answer I got was that later this year we would learn how much money was in the account as of this March. We will not get an accurate COVID-19 status in the public accounts until 2021. This is ridiculous. That money belongs to Canadians, not the government.
What is the current financial status of the EI fund?
COVID-19 Pandemic and Other Matters August 12th, 2020
Mr. Chair, on the transition, I got a briefing last spring from ESDC staff. The officials told me the best-case scenario of updating EI would take 10 years. Now the minister says they can fix it all in time for the end of the CERB, which is fast approaching.
Will the government commit to having zero Canadians lose their benefits they are entitled to as part of this rushed process?
COVID-19 Pandemic and Other Matters August 12th, 2020
Mr. Chair, people are sitting at home and not working when they want to work, and there are jobs for them. The only delay is the government is refusing to solve the problem. It could be new parents or people wanting to go back to work and over and over the government refuses to lift a finger to help.
Why does the government not just make the changes and get it done today?
COVID-19 Pandemic and Other Matters August 12th, 2020
Mr. Chair, being top of mind does not help these parents one iota and this is not a problem that can simply wait. We have been asking for months.
Another issue is that those who were on the CERB, but did not want to go to work under an EI work-sharing agreement are being told that they cannot and will have to wait for the minister to sign an order allowing them to work. Why has the minister failed to sign that order?
COVID-19 Pandemic and Other Matters August 12th, 2020
Mr. Chair, for months the Conservatives have been asking about new and expectant parents who will not have enough hours to qualify for EI parental leave due to COVID-19 and still the government refuses to address the problem. It has said over and over again it will be solved, but parents are having children now and are being told by Service Canada that they are not eligible. One person I heard from was eight hours short. A solution sometime in the future does not help them.
Why is the minister refusing to get parents the certainty they need?
Business of Supply June 17th, 2020
Madam Chair, does the minister not understand that when members of Parliament review the estimates and have these questions in their minds, if the government is not clear on them, we are not mind readers. I would hope the government would be more forthcoming on these programs and in letting us know.
Business of Supply June 17th, 2020
Madam Chair, similarly, the student work placement program is getting $5 million despite $80 million being promised. What is going on here?
Business of Supply June 17th, 2020
I would appreciate getting those details, Madam Chair.
The government announced $9.2 million for agricultural jobs under this program, but the program is only getting $5.25 million. How is this possible?
Business of Supply June 17th, 2020
Madam Chair, I will give the minister another opportunity. Why is it the case there is only $5.25 million for this program?