Kellie Leitch

[Employment Insurance, December 5th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to respond to the question from the member opposite about important changes that we are making to the employment insurance program through the working while on claim pilot project.

According to Statistics Canada, there were 273,000 unfilled jobs in Canada last June.

We believe that Canada's EI program must encourage and help unemployed individuals fill available jobs as quickly as possible. Unlike the NDP members who have focused on a carbon tax that would increase taxes and decrease available jobs, we are focused on ensuring that Canadians can work.

Under Canada's economic action plan in 2012, the Government of Canada made targeted, common sense changes to EI that encourage Canadians to stay active in the marketplace. One of these common sense changes was the working while on claim pilot project.

Under the previous pilot project, EI recipients who had part-time or occasional work had their benefits reduced dollar for dollar once they earned more than $75, or 40% of their weekly benefit amount, whichever was greater. Under the new pilot project announced on August 5, eligible EI claimants are able to keep EI benefits equalling 50% of total earnings they earned while on claim.

We know some concerns have been raised about the new pilot project and we have listened. That is why we recently announced adjustments to the new pilot project. On October 5, the government announced its intention to amend the current working while on claim pilot project. The amendment is aimed at providing the option of reverting to the rules that existed under the previous pilot project to recent EI claimants who were on claim and had earnings between August 7, 2011, and August 4, 2012.

With these changes, claimants will have more time to make the transition to the new rules.

We are working hard to help claimants stay connected with the labour market by encouraging them to accept available work while receiving EI benefits.

Canadians want to get back to work and statistics show that, if they stay active and connected to the labour market, they often find permanent employment faster. Our government is committed to supporting workers and ensuring that EI enables a strong and competitive workforce.

Our government's priorities are job creation, economic growth and long-term prosperity for all Canadians.

[Employment Insurance, December 4th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, our government is making improvements to employment insurance so we will help better connect Canadians with jobs in their local labour market.

The working while on claim pilot project is a national three year EI pilot project that came into effect on August 5. The intent of this pilot project is to find a way to help EI claimants stay connected to the labour market.

We believe claimants benefit by accepting work while on claim, even if it is part-time or temporary work.

This new pilot allows EI claimants who are working to keep 50% of their benefits for every dollar they earn. This replaces the 100% clawback for any money above that weekly cap previously.

We know there have been concerns about the current pilot project and we have listened and responded by allowing claimants time to transition to this new pilot project.

[Employment Insurance, December 4th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to respond to the member's comments.

Our government's top priorities are job creation, economic growth and long-term prosperity for Canadians.

In order to foster a strong and competitive workforce, we want to help Canadians who have lost their job find new jobs as soon as possible. By encouraging unemployed Canadians to take part-time work while they are collecting EI benefits, we know the odds are that this will lead to permanent work and it increases substantially by taking those part-time jobs.

On August 5, we implemented the new working while on claim pilot project that was announced in budget 2012. We know there were some concerns raised about the new pilot project and we listened. On October 5, the government announced its intention to amend the working while on claim pilot project. This amendment will allow those who are working while on claim between August 7, 2011, and August 4, 2012, to revert to the rules of the old pilot project over the next three years. This was done to allow these claimants time to transition to the new pilot project.

The new pilot project will continue to ensure that Canadians are always better off working than not.

But that is not all. We are also taking steps to help Canadians find local jobs that are out there for them.

Sometimes people lack the resources to search effectively for work. Using tools like job bank, we will be sending more frequent and enhanced job alerts and labour market information to Canadians.

We are here to help the unemployed.

At the same time, we recognize there are Canadians who are having difficulty finding work, particularly in the off season in parts of the country where much of the economy is based on seasonal industries. For those who are unable to find employment, employment insurance will continue to be there for them as it always has been.

[Regional Economic Development, December 3rd, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned before, cooperatives are important economic drivers that support development in all regions of our country and our government is taking decisive steps to support them.

I appreciate the member opposite's comments and questions. I will be happy to relay them to the government.

[Regional Economic Development, December 3rd, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have the opportunity to respond to the member for Ottawa—Vanier.

Cooperatives are important economic drivers that support development in all regions of Canada. Our government is taking decisive steps to ensure that Canadian cooperatives can prosper.

Industry Canada offers an array of services to support small businesses and cooperatives, including training, information and funding. For example, the Canada small business financing program seeks to increase the availability of loans to establish, expand, modernize and improve small businesses.

The Business Development Bank of Canada also provides support to small and medium-sized businesses. The BDC has provided financing to cooperatives in the past and will continue to do so. The BDC partners with the Canadian Youth Business Foundation to extend its reach to small businesses. The CYBF is an important source of financing and support for young entrepreneurs, including those within cooperatives.

The Canada Business Network is a multi-channel government information service for start-up entrepreneurs and cooperatives, as well as small businesses.

Cooperatives can also access BizPal, an online service that provides corporations with information on the registration and licenses needed to start and operate a business.

In addition, regional development agencies and the innovation commercialization program, with an initial commitment of $40 million, aim to help demonstrate new products developed by Canadian small businesses and cooperatives.

Quebec cooperatives are a significant source of lending for small and medium-sized business. They have an important role to play in fostering the economic and social fabric of Quebec and are a major source of job creation. As the member opposite noted, the Quebec government recently announced its intention to create a Fonds de co-investissement COOP financing alliance. This alliance would foster the development of cooperatives in Quebec. More specifically, it would increase and simplify the access to financing for cooperatives in the province. The BDC is one of the members that will participate in this worthwhile initiative.

In 2012, the International Year of Cooperatives, it is particularly important to take note of the many initiatives that Canada has in place to foster the development of cooperatives. I encourage the member opposite to look to those opportunities that are available to cooperatives across the entire country.

[Employment Insurance, December 3rd, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, our government recognizes that sound policies come from inclusive decision making, and we are seeing results.

We are proud to have seen over 820,000 jobs created since the end of the economic recession.

Our government is working to help Canadians in local areas find jobs appropriate to their qualifications. At the same time, we recognize that Canadians are having difficulty finding work, particularly in the off-season in parts of the country where much of the economy is based on seasonal industries.

For those who are unable to find employment, employment insurance will be there for them, as it always has been.

[Employment Insurance, December 3rd, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, let me assure the member opposite that our government is listening to Canadians, and we did listen to Canadians on the various initiatives set out in the budget implementation act.

The Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, the Minister of State for Seniors and I consulted widely in the lead-up to the budget. In fact, last year I was pleased to travel with my colleague, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance, to host round tables on EI rate setting. It was through these consultations that our government confirmed that Canadians want stable predictable EI premium rates and a transparent rate-setting process. In response to our consultations, our government introduced legislation this year to ensure predictability and stability in the EI premium rate setting.

In addition, I was also pleased to be involved in our government's consultations with medical specialists and stakeholders regarding the new EI benefit for parents of critically ill children.

Consultations are an integral part of the business we are in. They provide valuable input into the decision-making process.

The economic growth seen under our government's leadership is only possible by working in partnership with Canadians.

Consulting with stakeholders is not only an option for us. It is an essential step in the development of sound program and policy decisions.

[Jobs and Growth Act, 2012, December 3rd, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for Mississauga South, knowing how dedicated she is to her constituents, particularly the families in her area. She has a young family herself. I know how important the services and other items are to both her family and constituents.

One of the things this budget really focuses on is small businesses. I know that in the member's riding of Mississauga South there are a number of small businesses, all of which are delighted with the direction this budget is taking and how it is going to help them become even more prosperous and to create even more jobs.

I wonder if the member could comment on the impact of this budget on small businesses in her riding of Mississauga South.

[International Day of Persons with Disabilities, December 3rd, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 20th annual International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Today, among others, we honour our inspiring Paralympians, athletes and coaches with disabilities.

Our government is proud to support the Canadian Paralympic Committee and parasport, at record levels. No other government in Canadian history has done more to build an inclusive society. Whether it be funding the labour market agreements for persons with disabilities, which assist over 300,000 Canadians; extending the opportunities fund, which has helped 60,000 people overcome barriers to join the workforce; providing further support to the enabling accessibility fund, which has funded 835 projects to increase community accessibility across Canada; or the creation of registered disability savings programs that allows families to save for the future of their children with a disability which, to date, over 60,000 individuals have signed up for, we are getting the job done.

Unfortunately, the NDP and the Liberals voted against every one of these initiatives.

[Employment Insurance, November 30th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, actually, this government's members understand seasonal workers exceptionally well. In fact, in my riding in Simcoe—Grey, there are many seasonal workers and they are delighted with the plan that this government has put forward. We have created 820,000 net new jobs. Whether that be ensuring that young people have opportunities for employment or the targeted initiative for older workers, we have a plan for creating jobs, unlike the New Democrats who have a $21 billion carbon tax that would just create an opportunity to destroy jobs and increase taxes.