Marlene Jennings

[Employment Insurance, May 11th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, we already know that the Conservative government has a frustrating tendency to break its promises: income trusts, income tax. Last fall, the Conservatives promised to make employment insurance available to self-employed Canadians. They have not done so.

The government seems to be counting on Canadians to create their own jobs, so when will it keep its promise and give them access to employment insurance?

[Employment Insurance, May 11th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the unemployment rate is the highest it has been in eight years. Over 300,000 Canadians have lost their jobs since the fall. These Canadian families are the ones bearing the brunt of the Conservative recession, but the government has done nothing to address regional inequalities in the employment insurance system.

When will the government establish a national eligibility threshold that is fair to all Canadians, at 360 hours?

[Employment Insurance, May 7th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the C.D. Howe Institute does not agree with them. The Toronto Dominion Bank does not agree with them and President Obama's economic adviser has said that employment insurance is an especially effective stimulus measure. Every dollar spent on employment insurance injects $1.61 into our economy. President Obama understands this, but not the Conservatives.

When will the minister wake up and improve access to employment insurance for all workers—

[Employment Insurance, May 7th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the economy has deteriorated since the Conservative budget and Canada needs extra stimulus. Economists agree that EI is the way to go. In fact, dollar for dollar, the EI system is eight times as effective as the entire tax system in mitigating the impact of a recession.

When will Conservatives stop seeing EI as a problem and see it for what it is; part of the solution?

[Employment Insurance, May 4th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, according to the minister's logic, the unemployment rate would have to go up for unemployed workers to be eligible. In the lower St. Lawrence region, a claimant needs 455 hours of work to be eligible. In Montreal, that number is 595, and in Gatineau, it is 700. The employment insurance system should be fair to all unemployed workers, to all Canadians, regardless of their postal code.

Does the Conservative government acknowledge that the time has come to create a national standard—

[Automotive Industry, April 30th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the promise was made by the Minister of Finance last December. Anyone who can count knows that was five months ago.

It is inconceivable that this government continues to delay creating the secured credit facility for the automotive sector.

The minister does not seem to understand that dealers need credit to sell vehicles and that consumers need credit to purchase or lease vehicles.

Will the secured credit facility be in place on May 1 as promised by the minister?

[Social Programs, April 29th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, only two of the 89 requests for funding were approved, and both of those were in Conservative ridings. What a surprise.

And the other big surprise? The Minister of Finance is a former director of the centre that received $15 million.

When was the minister informed of that connection? Will she submit all correspondence exchanged between the Minister of Finance's office and her own about that funding?

[Business of the House, April 27th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, because of the need for good coordination and reliable information on the swine flu situation, the official opposition would like to make a proposal today. Consultations have begun with all of the parties; more may be required. We are flexible about that, but I wonder if there is yet unanimous consent for a motion along the lines of the following.

I move that in order to reinforce the confidence that all Canadians should have in Canada's public health system at this time, when concern is growing in many countries about the risk of a new international influenza outbreak, a special surveillance committee of parliamentarians is hereby established with all the powers given to standing committees by the Standing Orders. It would consist of 11 members of the House of Commons, including five from the Conservative Party, three from the Liberal Party, two from the Bloc Québécois and one from the New Democratic Party, with a chair to be elected from among the government members, for the purpose of monitoring all developments in respect of the influenza situation and ensuring that the public receives the timely, accurate and useful information needed to react appropriately to evolving events. To that end, the parties should select their representatives on this committee at least in part based upon their expertise in public health matters. The committee should receive daily briefings from senior government officials, in camera when necessary, on all matters that it deems to be relevant to protecting and promoting the public interest.

[Health, April 21st, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, that is not true. The minister did not answer the question. He tabled a report on Friday stating that his agency informed the Government of Ontario on July 18, 2008. Ontario's Chief Medical Officer also submitted a report on Friday, in which he said that it was on July 30.

Was it July 18 or July 30? Who is telling the truth—the minister or Ontario's Chief Medical Officer?

When will this government admit that it is incompetent?

[Business of Supply, April 21st, 2009]

They have evolved in their thinking.