Kellie Leitch

[Employment Insurance, November 30th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, this government has been focused on ensuring that Canadians have jobs, in fact creating 820,000 net new jobs since the downturn of the recession.

Unlike the New Democrats, we have a plan we are putting in place that would help create jobs, whether that be the EI small business tax credit, the additional $50 million for the youth employment strategy or $30 million in order to aid individuals with disabilities to be employed. Unlike the NDP with its proposed $21 billion carbon tax, we are creating jobs.

[Employment Insurance, November 30th, 2012]

I have to say, Mr. Speaker, with fans like that, who needs enemies?

Let us be clear. This government is focused on making sure of what is good for Canadians. We are creating jobs across the country, 820,000 net new jobs since the downturn in the economy. Whether that is via the EI small business hiring fund, apprenticeship grants, or by making sure there are targeted initiatives for older workers, this government is focused on creating jobs, unlike the Liberals, who just wanted to raid the EI fund.

[Employment Insurance, November 30th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, let us be very clear. This government is very focused on making sure that taxpayers' dollars are used appropriately, unlike the Liberals who, when given the opportunity to make sure that EI recipients, employers, and employees would receive the funds put into the EI account, they took that $58 billion to use for other purposes. They took it away from employers and employees.

This government is focused on making sure that employees and employers receive what is in that EI fund. We are focused on making sure that there are good services for Canadians.

[Employment Insurance, November 30th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, improvements have been made to employment insurance, and as the minister mentioned at committee just yesterday morning, we have been meeting seasonal norms for EI processing.

Let us be very clear about EI. It was the Liberals who raided the EI account, the $58 billion in EI funds that were intended for EI recipients.

I encourage the members opposite to get on board and help create jobs. On this side of the House, we are standing up for employers and employees. We are not raiding a fund that belongs to them.

[Housing, November 28th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, the Government of Quebec has already announced plans with respect to provincial programs to provide financial assistance to homeowners dealing with pyrrhotite damage. I encourage the member opposite and his constituents to please contact the province with respect to that provincial program and to be directed to the SHQ.

[Employment Insurance, November 28th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, let me be very clear that 90% of those jobs are full-time jobs. We are making sure that Canadians have jobs, unlike the opposition, which likes to vote against all of those initiatives that have made sure that Canadians have high-quality jobs for their families.

[Employment Insurance, November 28th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, as I was mentioning, Service Canada continues to focus on improving, but let us be serious about what is important to Canadians. Canadians care about having jobs, and this government is focused on creating new jobs. We have created 820,000 net new jobs since the downturn of the recession--

[Employment Insurance, November 28th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, Service Canada continues to improve its operations ensuring that Canadians have--

[Member for Papineau, November 23rd, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today because I am concerned, both as an Ontario MP and actually an Albertan who grew up in Fort McMurray, about the comments made by the member for Papineau. He said:

I'm a Liberal, so of course I think so, yes. Certainly when we look at the great prime ministers of the 20th century, those that really stood the test of time, they were MPs from Quebec...

Sir John A. Macdonald and Lester B. Pearson, both of whom were MPs from the province of Ontario, were outstanding prime ministers. I think all Canadians would agree with that.

I ask the MP for Papineau this. Are these outstanding Canadians, who founded Canada and who built Canada's international reputation, not good enough for the member for Papineau? This is just simply dangerous and also challenging information, as both an individual who grew up in Alberta and an Ontario MP, that I just find unacceptable.

I am here for all Canadians. I think all members are here for all Canadians. We all aspire and think all Canadians should aspire and could become the Prime Minister of Canada.

[First Nations Financial Transparency Act, November 23rd, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, let us be very clear about jurisdiction. Health care dollars in this country are provided to the provinces, which make decisions with respect to how they deal with those dollars.

This government has put in place an escalator, in fact, 6%, year-over-year, in order to make sure health care dollars are made available to Canadians. I encourage the member opposite to look at those jurisdictional issues so she is clear with respect to how health care dollars are allocated in this country.