Diane Finley

[Employment Insurance, February 3rd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, in these times, when too many people are losing their jobs through circumstances beyond their control, we have already taken steps and will continue to take steps to ensure they get the benefits they deserve in a timely manner.

To that end, we have expanded the hours of the call centres. We have people working overtime to process claims. We are doing load balancing and are bringing back people who have EI processing experience so they can do the job of making sure that Canadians get the benefits that they need and deserve in a timely manner.

[Employment Insurance, February 3rd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, if the hon. member were to take the time to actually read the economic action plan, he would see that we have addressed every one of those issues.

We are providing more support for workers unfortunate enough to lose their jobs. We have a special focus on those long tenured workers who lose their jobs so that they can go back to school. We will continue EI benefits for them.

We have the community adjustment fund to help communities that have been particularly hard hit when they depend on a particular industry or company.

It is the hon. member once again who should apologize to those people.

[Employment Insurance, February 3rd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, actually it is the NDP who should be apologizing to those people.

Our economic action plan is providing a tremendous amount of support for those who are unfortunate enough to lose their jobs. We are providing an extra five weeks of EI benefits over top of regular benefits. We are expanding the work sharing program so that people do not lose their jobs. We are expanding the targeted initiative for older workers. We are providing an unprecedented amount of training for not only those who are on EI, but for those who are not even on it.

The NDP will be voting against every one of those initiatives. Those members deserve to apologize.

[Human Resources and Skills Development, February 3rd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, we launched the targeted initiative for older workers two or three years ago in order to help such people. That program has been very successful and we have expanded it considerably in our economic action plan, in order to support these people even further.

However, I wonder why a gentleman of a certain age would have a colleague who said:

“Will the Minister of Finance admit that older workers cannot be retrained to work in other areas?”

We have faith in our workers, regardless of their age.

[Human Resources and Skills Development, February 3rd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, it is always sad anytime someone loses their job or is laid off. That is why our economic action plan includes a number of measures to help those people, regardless of their age. We want them to be able to work and we will give them the opportunity to take extensive training. It is the Bloc Québécois that wants to impede this.

[Employment Insurance, February 2nd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, we know that it is a real shock to any family when a member gets laid off, particularly through circumstances beyond their control. That is why we are extending benefits in our economic action plan. Above regular benefits, we are adding another five weeks to help these people. We are providing more in terms of work-sharing and expanding it so that people can retain and preserve their jobs.

We are also investing very heavily in helping those who are unfortunate enough to lose their jobs to get the training and the skills so they can get back to work with the jobs of today and tomorrow.

[Employment Insurance, February 2nd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, what is really insulting is the NDP's position, as stated by numerous of its caucus members, that people over 50 cannot learn new jobs. I find that extremely offensive. The NDP should apologize for saying that anybody over 50 cannot learn new jobs and should not work. We believe they can, and that is why we are investing in them.

[Human Resources and Skills Development, February 2nd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, that is exactly what we are offering them. We are providing training so that they can have good jobs in the future.

We will be providing the training and they have voted against it.

[Human Resources and Skills Development, February 2nd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, we want people to have the opportunity to work, to bring food home and put it on the table for their families, and to do that with dignity.

The apology should be coming from the hon. member and some of his cohorts who keep saying that people over 50 cannot learn new jobs. They want to put them out to pasture. We have faith in them.

[Human Resources and Skills Development, February 2nd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, it is a tragedy when anyone gets laid off from his or her job. We understand that on this side of the House, but we believe that in a time when across this country there are still many job openings, and in fact, companies cannot find enough people with the needed skills to fill those jobs, it is important that people get back to work, that they have the opportunities to get the skills to do the jobs of today and the jobs of tomorrow. We believe they should have that opportunity. That is what we are providing with our economic action plan.