Diane Finley

[Employment Insurance, March 23rd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, those facts are wrong.

I just made it very clear that there are $500 million specifically in our economic action plan to help those who do not qualify for EI.

As far as processing, we are getting the job done. We have hired several hundred people back into EI to get the processing done quickly. We are increasing computerization because we want these people to get their benefits just as quickly as possible.

[Employment Insurance, March 23rd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, obviously the hon. member did not read the budget, which he supported. Within that budget is an additional $500 million targeted at helping those very workers who do not qualify to help them get the training they need to qualify for the jobs of tomorrow.

This money and assistance is available to those who are not EI eligible, specifically because those people need and deserve our help too.

[Employment Insurance, March 23rd, 2009]

It is unfortunate but true that more people are unemployed than before. That is why we have taken steps to hire hundreds of employees to speed up payment of employment insurance benefits and why we have increased automation to provide assistance more quickly, so they can receive the benefits they deserve.

[Employment Insurance, March 23rd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I assure you that we are looking after the unemployed throughout Canada. That is why, in our economic action plan, we expanded our program for older workers. That is why we increased training. That is why we improved so many programs to help the workers he is talking about.

[Questions on the Order Paper, March 12th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, this government is supporting the child care choices of all families with young children in a clear and tangible way through the universal child care benefit, UCCB.

Since July 2006 the UCCB has been providing $100 each month, that is $2.4 billion per year, for two million children under six years of age.

This direct financial support helps parents, regardless of where they live, their hours of work or the choices they make, pay for the type of care that is best for their family.

The UCCB has lifted an estimated 24,000 families with about 55,000 children out of low income. This estimate is based on the social Policy Directorate’s microsimulation model that examines the distributional impacts of changes to tax and transfer programs.

The two-point reduction in the GST rate, from 7% to 5%, provides substantial tax relief to all Canadians, including those who do not earn enough to pay income tax.

[Housing, March 11th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, we are all eager to answer this question, because within our economic action plan there is $2 billion for just the kind of work to which that member is referring. There is $1 billion for affordable housing renovations right across the country. There is another $1 billion for new affordable housing, specifically for seniors and for the disabled. There is money for people in the north who need it.

We are putting this out there for Canadians, but the hon. member and her entire party voted against every penny of it.

[Employment Insurance, March 11th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, we have a number of people in Human Resources and Skills Development who are working very hard to ensure those Canadians who need and deserve employment insurance benefits receive them in a timely manner. We are seeing unprecedented demands on this system.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank those of my staff who have been working extra hours and who have been working weekends for the sake of Canadians.

[Employment Insurance, March 11th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, these are very challenging times for way too many people in this country. Too many of them have lost their jobs and are having to look to EI for support. We are increasing and have already increased the number of people who are handling EI and processing the claims.

We are working with companies to ensure the claims get filed faster so we can get the benefits to those who need them faster. We are bringing back retirees to ensure we have enough people to do this. We are getting the job done for those Canadians who need our help.

[Domtar, March 10th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, there are very great challenges in these tough times for a great number of people. We have a framework and we intend to stick with that framework.

[Child Care, March 10th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, unlike the leader of the Liberal Party, on this side of the House we will continue to stand up for parents and give them real choice in child care. Unlike the Liberal leader, we will not take away the UCCB that provides $2.4 billion a year to families to help them provide care for their two million children.

Unlike the Liberal leader, we believe in Canadian parents and their ability to choose what is best for their children.