Kellie Leitch

[Employment, March 22nd, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, economic action plan 2013 puts forward a number of initiatives to make sure that Canadians have opportunities for jobs, whether that be the Canada job grant or the creation of 5,000 new post-secondary internships. We are moving forward to make sure Canadians have the skills they need to get the jobs they need.

The Association of Canadian Community Colleges had this to say:

Federal commitments in Budget 2013 will encourage a reduction in barriers to Canada’s economic success, while maximizing the talents and advanced skills of Canadians....

ACCC congratulates the government for making investments designed to address Canada’s skills gap.

[Intergovernmental Relations, March 22nd, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, economic action plan 2013 is focused on fixing our country's skills shortages by getting Canadians new or better jobs. For the first time, the Canada jobs grant will take skills training choices out of the hands of governments and put them where they belong, with employers and employees, so that we can create jobs. This will result in people getting trained for the jobs that actually exist.

We want to work with the provinces to take training from government to employers and employees. This is going to build upon our 950,000 net new jobs since the downturn in the recession.

[Employment Insurance, March 21st, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, our government has created 950,000 net new jobs since the downturn of the recession. That is why we are putting in place policies and initiatives, such as the youth employment strategy, and making sure that apprenticeships are provided support through grants such as the completion grant and the initiation grants.

I encourage the NDP opposite to support those job creation programs and the long-term prosperity of the country that will be put forward in the budget today. Employment insurance, as we have mentioned before, will continue to be there for those who need it.

[Employment Insurance, March 21st, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, the purpose of employment insurance is to support those who are temporarily unemployed through no fault of their own. Our government will continue to support them by providing employment insurance to those individuals.

As the member opposite has mentioned, our government brought forward the whistleblower protection act 13 years ago under the scandal-plagued Liberals. If public servants know of some wrongdoing, we encourage them to bring that forward.

[Employment Insurance, March 21st, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned before, the purpose of employment insurance is to support those who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own. Employment insurance will continue to be there for individuals who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own as it always has been in the past.

As I just mentioned, we have created 950,000 net new jobs since the downturn of the recession. We encourage the NDP to support today those initiatives that we will be doing to create jobs, grow our economy and have long-term prosperity, unlike the opposition, who likes to travel abroad and destroy jobs by making decisions that—

[Employment Insurance, March 21st, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, as I have just mentioned, the purpose of employment insurance is to support those who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own. Service Canada will continue to take on the responsibility to find and stop inappropriate claims for Canadians who have paid into this system to access these benefits as they actually deserve them.

Unlike the NDP we are here to support Canadians and create jobs, in fact, 950,000 net new jobs since the downturn of the recession. I encourage the NDP today to please support all the initiatives in our budget that will help create new jobs.

[Employment Insurance, March 21st, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, as the Prime Minister has already mentioned today, the purpose of EI is to support those who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own. Service Canada has the responsibility to find and stop inappropriate claims so Canadians who have paid into the system can access the benefits when they actually need them. For those who are unable to find employment, as we have mentioned in the House many times before, employment insurance will continue to be there for them when they need it.

[Employment Insurance, March 20th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, in deciding and planning to replace four tribunals with one, we have paid careful attention to guaranteeing that safeguards would be in place to maintain the integrity of the system.

We cannot hide the fact that the old system, with four tribunals, each with its own staff and processes, was costly and inefficient.

The social security tribunal is a common sense approach that would make it easier for appellants to have their cases heard and to do so at a significantly lower cost to Canadians. By streamlining the appeals process, we would get a process that is not only fair and impartial but more efficient and less costly.

The individual experience of decision-makers for a particular section would be maintained. All members deciding EI cases would be selected in consultation with employers and employee representatives to the EI commission.

[Employment Insurance, March 20th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, all Canadians have the right to fair and impartial decisions with their social security appeals, and we are not about changing that.

Right now four different tribunals hear cases with respect to employment insurance, the Canadian pension plan and old age security. In three of the four current tribunals, each case is heard by a three-member panel chosen from among over 1,200 part-time members. These members hear appeals, on average, two days per month. This is inefficient, as we can tell.

A great deal of complex logistics and administrative support is required to keep these part-time members engaged and fully informed. Support staff must train these members and keep them informed of current appeal and other legal decisions that may affect cases put before tribunal members.

In addition, under the current system files are generated manually, resulting in a lot of cumbersome paperwork.

Panel members must hear cases in person, and that means that there are significant administrative and travel expenses.

The new social security tribunal would be made up of 70 members, all working full time, appointed by order in council. In place of panels, cases would be dealt with by one member. These members would be dedicated solely to hearing and deciding on appeals.

Having full-time members would allow the social security tribunal's support staff to concentrate on what they should doing, that is, the appeal process itself. This would enable members to hear and render decisions more effectively. It would also significantly reduce the work that is involved in appointing, training and briefing them.

With respect to fairness, one of the hallmarks of the current process is the independent relationships members have with the department and their impartiality. This independence would be preserved in the social security tribunal, and the importance of objectivity and neutrality would continue to be emphasized. The expertise of decision-makers would not be affected.

The new social security tribunal would provide two levels of appeal. The first, the general division, would have two sections for appeals, one for employment insurance and the other for CPP and OAS. The second level, the appeal division, would hear all appeals from the general division. Both divisions would be dedicated to providing fair and impartial reviews of government decisions. Members would be assigned to one section, based upon their particular experience.

As for the appeals themselves, we are going to see quite a few changes.

First, case files would be generated electronically, eliminating heavy paperwork. Instead of appearing in person, appellants could apply to have their cases taken by phone or video conference whenever possible.

Canadians have told us that they want less bureaucracy. They want us to cut red tape. That is exactly what we would be doing in the establishment of the new social security tribunal.

[Employment Insurance, March 5th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that both the International Monetary Fund and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development expect Canada to be among the growing economies of the G7 this year and the next.

However, we are not immune to global economic uncertainty and we are well aware of our recovery during this fragile economy. That is why the economic action plan brought changes to the employment insurance to help better connect Canadians with available jobs, and since July 2009, our labour market has created over 900,000 net new jobs.

It is important to also note, and I have mentioned this before this evening, that employment insurance will continue to be available to those who need it and have paid into it. Those who are unable to find employment will continue to have employment insurance available to them, as it always has been.