Kellie Leitch

[Employment Insurance, March 27th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, our government is focused on economic growth and job creation.

We are also committed to making sure that individuals receive the benefits they are entitled to. That is why with EI processing, we have increased the number of full-time staff by 475. We have transferred over 120 individuals from part-time to full-time.

We are doing what we can to provide the best services possible to Canadians so that they get the benefits they are entitled to.

[Pensions, March 27th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I am not going to speculate on the budget, as I said yesterday. Let us be very clear. We are trying to ensure that OAS is sustainable for the future and that future generations of Canadians have an opportunity to access OAS. Old age security will become unsustainable on its current path. Ignoring this actually puts future generations of Canadians at risk.

We are focused on ensuring we have a retirement income security system that works for Canadians, unlike the NDP.

[Employment Insurance, March 26th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, again I will not speculate on the budget, but over the last number of weeks we have added over 475 employees to our processing efforts in order to process EI claims, and we have shifted over 120 staff from part time to full time. We are doing what we need to do to make sure that Canadians are receiving the services they need.

I ask the NDP to support us in our efforts, as they never have before, to make sure that we are supporting Canadians in getting the jobs they need and the support they need.

[Employment Insurance, March 26th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, our government's top priority is job creation and economic growth.

This year, as in other years, we have added resources into the EI system to make sure that those individuals who are eligible for EI receive the benefits they need.

We want to make sure that every Canadian in this country who wants to work has an opportunity to work. Our program, our economic action plan, has delivered on that.

We ask the NDP members, why will they not ever support us on these initiatives to get Canadians working?

[Government Priorities, March 26th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I will not speculate on the budget, but our government started this debate on old age security in an effort to protect future generations of Canadians.

Old age security will become unsustainable on its current course. Ignoring this problem is simply dangerous for young Canadians like me. Our government is working to sustain OAS for Canadians today and future generations. Canadians can be proud of our Canadian retirement system. We are living up to our promises.

I ask the NDP members, why did they not vote for our increase in GIS or any of those other things that support seniors in this country?

[Snowsmart, March 26th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to highlight a new Government of Canada initiative that will increase the safety of young skiers and snowboarders across the country.

Last week I had the privilege of announcing the government's snowsmart initiative with the Minister of State for Sport in my riding of Simcoe—Grey and supported by the Blue Mountain Resort team of Dave Sinclair and Dan Skelton as well as municipal councillor Gail Ardiel and Mayor Ellen Anderson.

Our government has committed $200,000 to the snowsmart campaign in conjunction with Smartrisk, the Canadian Ski Patrol System and the Canadian Snowboard Foundation. The purpose of this initiative is to ensure that skiers and snowboarders across the country can participate in winter sports in a manner that is safe and prevents life-threatening injuries.

Many of the accidents that happen on ski hills are preventable and involve young children. It is up to us to lead the safety campaign that ensures that young skiers and snowboarders are hitting the slopes in a fun but safe way.

Canadians should be proud of our winter sport heritage and I am proud to be part of a government that supports safe participation of young people in winter sports.

[Employment Insurance, March 16th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I will not speculate on what will be or will not be in the budget. However, I will say that our government's top priority is job creation and economic growth, making sure that workers are well supported and that we provide all of the opportunities for young people, older people, seasonal workers and others to have gainful employment in this country.

[Guaranteed Income Supplement, March 16th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, we are committed to ensuring that seniors in our country receive their benefits. We have done many things toward that goal. Whether it be in 2007, when we created automatic renewal for GIS, or whether it is the proactive sending out 600,000 applications every year to those who do not receive GIS, OAS or CPP, or whether it be increasing the greatest increase in GIS in the last 25 years, these are all things the NDP voted against.

We are standing up for seniors. I wonder why the NDP never does that.

[Persons with Disabilities, March 16th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, the government created an enabling accessibility fund to help ensure community centres and public places were available and accessible to people with disabilities. The NDP voted against every one of those initiatives.

Projects were approved based on recommendations from public servants. The number of projects approved corresponded to the regions and proportionally to the applications received. Unfortunately, with so many applications, not all of those that applied would receive funding. However, every one of the projects that was chosen was based on merit.

[Youth, March 16th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, in 2010-11 the youth employment strategy actually helped over 57,000 youth get the jobs and the skills they needed so they could successfully enter into the workplace. There is a permanent increase in the Canada student jobs, almost 40,000 jobs every year.

This government is moving forward, ensuring that young people have the jobs and the skills they need to enter the workforce. Why does the NDP keep voting against every one of these initiatives?