House of Commons photoWon her last election, in 2019, with 47% of the vote.
Literacy October 4th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, we will be investing in literacy but we will do it right. We will fund it with over $80 million, with $300 million for new settlement programs, moneys that party, despite all its claims, voted against.
Canadians want their money to be spent wisely and that is exactly what we will do.
Literacy October 4th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, we do believe in literacy, which is why we are investing over $80 million and why we put new funds into the settlement funding process for new Canadians. This is money that had been frozen by the previous government for over 10 years.
We put that money in because we are investing in literacy and, by the way, the Liberals voted against it.
Literacy October 4th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, by focusing our energies on adult learning and literacy skills, Canadians will have access to the best literacy training available. These will, for a change, be programs that run efficiently and deliver real results for real Canadians.
Literacy October 4th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, we will be investing over $80 million in literacy programs. This government is refocusing its energies and its money on programs of a national nature to help literacy at all levels. That is our commitment. We are also investing in workplace skills and in literacy issues for new immigrants, something that party voted against.
Employment Insurance October 3rd, 2006
Mr. Speaker, we are very aware of how important the transitional measures are. They have been extended several times over the last several years. We are also aware that over the long term we must have a complete review of all of the EI boundaries. This would be a first step in that process.
Employment Insurance October 3rd, 2006
Mr. Speaker, we are very aware of the deadlines of the transitional measures. That is why we have been working very hard to try to make sure that we have a program in place within the deadlines. We are still working toward that deadline.
Government Appointments October 2nd, 2006
Mr. Speaker, this is sounding more and more like the same old same old, from when those people were on this side of the House. In those days, they sat on the committees. Now they are trying to say that only Liberals are capable of sitting and getting these appointments. They are still trying to stack it. We will not have that. We appoint people from all sides of the political spectrum.
Government Appointments October 2nd, 2006
Mr. Speaker, it would appear from the questions coming from the opposite side that those members seem to think the only capable person is a Liberal. We know better. We know that Conservatives in fact can be even more competent. We are hiring and choosing our people on the basis of competence and merit, regardless of their political stripes.
Employment Insurance October 2nd, 2006
Mr. Speaker, if we minimize the surplus in the EI account that means more money is available for all Canadians, fewer Canadians will need to pay taxes and it means lowering EI premiums, for example, for employers and the employees who need it so much. It also means more money in the economy, which is better for everyone.
Employment Insurance October 2nd, 2006
Mr. Speaker, a new mechanism has been put in place to minimize any surplus or loss in the EI account. We want to ensure we do everything possible to match EI revenues with EI expenditures.
Last year we had a better year than expected in our economy, so the EI claims were lower than usual, which is a good thing.
This new mechanism has only had one opportunity to be put into use. We look forward to it being reviewed again in order to best match revenues with incomes responsibly for Canadians.