Kellie Leitch

[Employment Insurance, April 30th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, our government has made common sense changes to better connect unemployed Canadians with opportunities for jobs. We have put forward in the budget opportunities for individuals to gain the skills they need to be able to enter into employment through either the Canada jobs grant or apprenticeship initiatives.

As I have mentioned many times in the House before, employment insurance will continue to be there for those who require it and who have paid into the system, as it always has been. Personal circumstances will always be taken into consideration.

I encourage the member opposite to make sure, as I have in my local community, that members of his local community know that the rules of EI are that, if people have paid into the system, they qualify for it and it will continue to be there for them as it always has been.

[Employment Insurance, April 30th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, the common sense changes we made to employment insurance allow us to provide Canadians with better information about the job market and to help them find jobs more quickly.

There are skills and labour shortages in many parts of Canada, including rural areas, as well as areas of high unemployment.

I am going to actually answer the question that the member had presented at the House, which I was asked to respond to initially, as opposed to what he presented today. I think it will also answer some of his questions from today.

Our efforts are meant to help those who are out of work find jobs in their local areas that match their skills. The connecting Canadians with available jobs initiative helps unemployed Canadians get back into the workforce as quickly as possible, no matter whether a claimant lives in a big city or a small community. They now have better access to local, regional and national labour market information. In addition, enhanced job alerts provide up-to-date information to individuals across the country each day.

Finding work is more difficult in some communities than in others. We recognize that, and our government understands that. That is why local labour market conditions are taken into account when considering a claimant's job search efforts.

As long as individuals make a reasonable effort to find another job, they will not be denied employment insurance benefits.

The need for claimants to look for work while collecting benefits is actually not new, though. If there are no jobs in that area, EI will continue to be there for individuals, as it always has been.

To ensure that Canadians have the skills they need to fill these new jobs, budget 2013 has announced the Canada jobs grant.

[Employment Insurance, April 30th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague is well aware of the real purpose of employment insurance.

Employment insurance provides temporary help to those who lose their job through no fault of their own.

This initiative is clarifying, not changing, the responsibilities of Canadians who are collecting EI. Our government is making common sense changes to help better connect unemployed Canadians with the available jobs in their regions that match their skills. For those who are unable to find employment, employment insurance will continue to be there for them as it always has been.

[Employment Insurance, April 30th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I must say that the hon. member's question is based on flawed assumptions.

What we are actually doing is helping employment insurance claimants get back to work. We are not penalizing them.

We are ensuring that EI is there for people who paid into the system, who are without work and who need it. Our government is connecting Canadians with available jobs. No matter where a claimant lives, whether it be in a small community or an urban setting, they now have improved access to information on available jobs in their communities. The enhanced job alert system, which is now available to all Canadians, sends daily notifications of new job postings.

The updated definition of suitable employment is based on commuting time, working conditions, type of work, wages, hours of work and a claimant's personal situation. While claimants are required to expand the scope of their job search, nothing prevents them from continuing to seek work in their preferred occupation at their preferred wage.

We empathize with Canadians who have lost their jobs and who are making a real effort to find work in their area, but who have not succeeded. These Canadians can rest assured that they will continue to receive employment insurance.

[Criminal Code, April 30th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the member on putting forward his private member's bill. This is something I know he is very passionate about. He has done a significant amount of consultation across the country.

One thing I would like to ask him is how this would specifically impact young Canadians across the country. How would this impact youth, not just in his local area but across the country? What kind of meaningful change would this have for young people?

[Employment Insurance, April 29th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, the accusations that our employees have to meet reduction quotas are false. I cannot be any clearer.

The purpose of EI is to support those who have lost their job through no fault of their own. Service Canada has a responsibility to find and stop inappropriate claims so Canadians who have paid into the system can access these benefits when they need them. Last year, nearly half a billion dollars in ineligible payments were detected and stopped by Service Canada.

Since 1993, officials have used targets to find and stop inappropriate claims so that Canadians who have paid into the system can access these benefits when they need them.

[Employment Insurance, April 29th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, the employment insurance program exists to support eligible Canadians who cannot find work. Service Canada has a responsibility to find and stop inappropriate claims so that Canadians who have paid into the system can access these benefits when they need them. That is why we have an integrity function built into the system.

Service Canada's integrity services branch is responsible for investigating client error, fraud and abuse. It ensures clients receive the right benefits at the right time and for the right purpose. We have mechanisms to detect overpayments and stop any further incorrect payments.

In short, when we uncover errors or fraud, we put a stop to it. That means less money going out for the wrong reasons.

Although there are performance objectives to help protect the benefits of the unemployed from fraud, quotas simply do not exist. These measures should not be misconstrued as savings quotas. If these performance targets are not met, there are no negative consequences for employees.

Last year, nearly half a billion dollars in ineligible payments were detected and stopped by Service Canada across all programs. This is in large number and it illustrates just how important it is that we act on behalf of Canadians to ensure the accuracy of payments. As large as this number is, we know that the EI program still lost hundreds of millions of dollars due to overpayments and fraud that were not recovered.

These integrity mechanisms help us to ensure that we are providing a sustainable system that will continue to be available to Canadians and dependable for those who are eligible. These integrity measures are not tied to any specific region of the country. Service Canada officials have been clear that they do not have quotas which would carry negative consequences for staff who fail to meet them.

Since 1993, officials have used targets to find and stop inappropriate claims so Canadians who have paid into the system can access these benefits when they need them.

Front-line Service Canada employees and managers do not receive bonuses for meeting performance objectives.

We hear constantly from the opposition members that they do not want any increase in EI premiums. If we do not stop and recover inappropriate claims, it would be Canadian employees and employers who bear the costs.

[Employment Insurance, April 29th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, as I have mentioned earlier in the House today, the changes to the employment insurance program are about better connecting Canadians to available jobs.

What we have put forward in budget 2013 is about creating an opportunity to build skills and provide opportunities to Canadians to be connected into the economy.

I encourage the members opposite to please support the Canada job grant, apprenticeships and our 5,000 internships and ensure Canadians have opportunities to build the skills they need so they contribute to the economy.

[Employment, April 29th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, our government committed, in budget 2013, to bring forward changes to the temporary foreign worker program. Later today, the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and the Minister of Immigration will be announcing the details of our government's reforms.

While the NDP and Liberal MPs demand more temporary foreign workers, we have actually committed to fix this program.

I call on the opposition members to support these efforts and to vote for budget 2013.

[Employment, April 29th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I was not here in 2005. I was practising medicine at the University of Western Ontario.

Let us be very clear. Budget 2013 would provide significant opportunities for young Canadians. Whether that be the Canada job grant or numerous other opportunities, the members opposite have that chance.

The NDP voting record to support youth is actually quite remarkable, whether that is voting against Canada summer jobs, voting against the youth employment strategy, voting against the apprenticeship completion grants or voting against the apprenticeship incentive grants. These are all things for young Canadians. Why do they not support them?