House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2019, with 36% of the vote.
Employment May 2nd, 2014
Mr. Speaker, the hypocrisy is now upon us. Opposition members come over and ask the Minister of Employment and Social Development for more temporary foreign workers in their ridings, say the program is not tight enough and stops them from getting workers in their ridings, but then they say we should tighten the program up and lessen the amount of workers. Which way do they want it?
Employment May 2nd, 2014
As I said, Mr. Speaker, the purpose of the temporary foreign worker program is to provide temporary help when acute labour shortages exist. We have taken strong steps to make sure that employers from coast to coast to coast comply with the principles behind this program. We are making sure that employers have the responsibility to meet their commitment to always give Canadians first crack at any job.
It is shameful that the member from that party, whose members constantly come over and ask the Minister of Employment and Social Development to increase the amount of temporary foreign workers in their ridings, is standing here and saying things—
Employment May 2nd, 2014
Mr. Speaker, as I said, we have increased the integrity in this program. We have passed several measures to tighten it, to make sure that employers always give Canadians first crack at any job. For example, we now have the authority to conduct on-site inspections. We have the ability to ban non-compliant employers from the program for two years, immediately adding their names to a blacklist, shaming them publicly. Any employer who does not support the measures that they put in the criteria when they apply for the program could be held legally responsible. Also, they can be subject to fines.
Employment May 2nd, 2014
Mr. Speaker, we have taken increased and strong measures to make sure that the integrity of this program is protected. I also think it is rich that a member of that party criticizes the explosion in the numbers of any program in this country, when members constantly come over to ask the minister to increase the amount of temporary foreign workers in their ridings.
Employment May 2nd, 2014
Mr. Speaker, there are constant audits going on in this program.
We have integrity officers now, a change that was made by our government, who can go into a work site unannounced and make sure that every employer that is engaged in this program is following the rules and protecting jobs for Canadians.
We are taking strong action to make sure that Canadians are protected first, and also strong action to make sure that employers do not abuse temporary foreign workers when they need to have them.
Employment May 2nd, 2014
Mr. Speaker, the purpose of the temporary foreign worker program is to provide temporary help when acute labour shortages exist.
Our government sent a strong message to employers that they must always give Canadians first crack at any available job.
Employment Insurance May 1st, 2014
There you have it, Mr. Speaker, that is the difference between our party and the Liberal Party. Atlantic Canadian Conservative members of Parliament want to build an Atlantic Canadian economy around jobs and growth. The Liberal Party wants to build an Atlantic Canadian economy that revolves around employment insurance.
We want to make sure that we fund jobs, opportunity, and growth. That is why we are funding things like the Irving Shipyard deal in Halifax. That is why we are supporting the Muskrat Falls development. That is why we support the west-east pipeline. That creates jobs. We are focused on making sure we have employment in Atlantic Canada or the jobs of the future for Atlantic Canadians to participate in.
The Liberals are focused on trying to build up a system that people will rely on in the future based on and revolving around EI. We believe in jobs and growth. They believe in dependency.
Employment Insurance May 1st, 2014
Mr. Speaker, I am glad to have the opportunity to reply to the claim made recently in the House by the hon. member for Malpeque. He stated that the changes made last year to the employment insurance program were making people poorer in Prince Edward Island. Nothing could be further from truth. I would ask that he stop making false accusations that are misleading and scaring the people of Prince Edward Island. In fact, the recent changes to employment insurance announced by the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans are actually increasing the amount of EI for rural islanders. I would call on the member opposite to join our party in support of these EI measures that support the rural parts of his province.
The broader changes we have made have made the program more flexible, more fair, and more responsive to the employment needs of people collecting EI. We did not change the eligibility requirements for EI. The rules for applying for and qualifying for employment insurance remain the same.
The changes simply ensure that claimants are given clear guidelines on the kind of work they need to consider when receiving EI benefits. In fact, we are supporting unemployed workers with information, jobs, and various measures to help them get back to work more quickly in their local area.
Our ultimate goal is to make it easier for job seekers and employers to find each other and connect, to make sure people have an opportunity to take jobs that are available in their region. This is why we introduced the connecting Canadians with available jobs initiative a year ago. Through this initiative, we introduced several new measures to provide employment insurance claimants with additional support. For example, the enhancement of the job alert system includes more timely and more relevant job postings and information about the job market in the claimant's local area.
The changes we made to EI also clarified the responsibility of claimants to look for work while receiving benefits. As long as workers meet all the regular requirements, including the requirement to seek employment, they will receive their benefits. It is that simple.
None of these changes is making people poorer. It is absolutely false to make those comments. Instead of trying to mislead the people of Prince Edward Island with baseless claims, I ask the hon. colleague to please stick to the facts.
For example, fewer than 1% of the people who were disqualified from EI since the changes were made over a year ago became ineligible because they failed to look for a job or refused to accept suitable work.
What is important to remember is that EI benefits will continue to be there for all Canadians, including people living in areas where jobs simply do not exist outside of seasonal and specialized industries.
Questions on the Order Paper May 1st, 2014
Mr. Speaker, with regard to (a), 98,714 loans were insured by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, CMHC, in 2013 for lenders where borrowers were classified by the originating lending institution as first-time homebuyers. As mortgage loan insurance protects lenders against losses in the event of borrower default, the lender is the client and is the purchaser of the insurance. Most lenders pass on the cost of the insurance to the borrower.
With regard to (b), the average amount insured for first-time homebuyers in 2013 was $240,078.
With regard to (c), the median amount insured for first-time homebuyers in 2013 was $223,200.
With regard to (d), the average cost of insurance for first-time homebuyers in 2013 was $6,102.
With regard to (e), the median cost of insurance for first-time homebuyers in 2013 was $5,669.
With regard to (f), if rates announced on February 28, 2014, had been in effect on January 1, 2013, the average cost of insurance would have been $7,017 and the median cost of insurance would have been $6,519.
As announced on February 28, 2014, effective May 1, 2014, CMHC mortgage insurance premiums for homeowners and 1-4 unit rental properties will increase by approximately 15% on average, for all loan-to-value ranges.
In 2013, the average CMHC insured loan at 95% loan-to-value was $248,000. Using these figures, the higher premium will result in an increase of approximately $5 to the monthly mortgage payment for the average Canadian homebuyer. This is not expected to have a material impact on the housing market.
Questions on the Order Paper May 1st, 2014
Mr. Speaker, with regard to (a), section 54(w) of the Employment Insurance Act, the EI Act, specifies that the EI economic regions should be established based on geographical units established or used by Statistics Canada. As announced by the Minister of Employment and Social Development, the proposed EI economic region of Charlottetown would consist of the 2011 census agglomeration of Charlottetown defined by Statistics Canada, while the proposed non-capital EI economic region would consist of all remaining geographical units outside the census agglomeration of Charlottetown. With regard to (a)(i), Oyster Bed Bridge is located in census subdivision lot 24, which is not included in the 2011 census agglomeration of Charlottetown. With regard to (a)(ii), Toronto Road is located in census subdivision lot 23, which is located within the 2011 census agglomeration of Charlottetown.
With regard to (b), it is estimated that on an annual basis, there will be approximately $1million more in EI benefits available as a result of the proposed modifications to create capital and non-capital EI economic regions in PEI.
With regard to (c), EI eligibility and entitlement and the amount of benefits are generally based on the residence of claimants, not on the location of work.
It is not possible to predict what the monthly unemployment rates for the purpose of EI will be in each EI economic region. As the change will come into force on October 12, 2014, the unemployment rates for the two new EI economic regions will only be known at that time.
Eligibility for EI fishing benefits is based on insured earnings, unlike EI regular benefits, for which eligibility is based on insured hours. Fishers can generally qualify for fishing benefits with a minimum of between $2,500 and $4,200 in insured earnings from fishing, depending on the unemployment rate in their EI region. Entitlement to EI fishing benefits is not linked to the regional unemployment rate. Fish harvesters continue to receive up to 26 weeks of benefits within a period, depending on when they apply. The benefit rate is also calculated dependent on the regional unemployment rate for EI purposes through the divisor used to establish average weekly earnings from fishing earnings.