Yves Lessard

[Budget Implementation Act, 2009, March 4th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, our colleague from Burnaby—New Westminster spoke about how this government treats women. We know that this is not the first time this government has attacked the means that women have to improve their lot in society. It went after women's shelters: of the 16 shelters, there are only four left to support women's groups. And it is now taking on employment equity.

I would like to know what the member thinks about this situation. The Liberals, like all of us and like the NDP, have been highly critical of this measure that would keep women from turning to the courts to have their rights recognized. Even worse, this measure would see fines of up to $50,000 slapped on unions wanting to defend women. What does he think about the Liberals, who have suddenly done an about-face and jumped into bed with the Conservatives, setting women's rights back more than 50 years?

[Employment Insurance, March 4th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, if the minister really wants to help the largest number of people, she should make it easier to access employment insurance. The numbers coming out of her own department show that only 46% of unemployed people actually receive benefits.

Does the minister really think that she is helping the largest number of people when she insists on denying benefits to 54% of unemployed people?

[Employment Insurance, March 4th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development is saying that adding five weeks of benefits will help those who need it most. If she really wants to help claimants, she should eliminate the unfair penalty of a two week waiting period for employment insurance.

Does the minister not think that eliminating the two week waiting period would be the best way to help all claimants, while also injecting money directly into the economy?

[Employment Insurance, March 3rd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the minister should tell us who she consulted. Eliminating the waiting period would, in our opinion, be a simple and effective measure. It would correct an injustice against those who are victims of the crisis.

After skimming $54 billion from the employment insurance fund, does the government understand the moral obligation it has to implement this measure?

[Employment Insurance, March 3rd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, in January alone, 129,000 jobs were lost. That means an additional 4,000 unemployed people every day. It is urgent that the government help these people, and lowering taxes is not the answer. Eliminating the employment insurance waiting period would immediately put money into the pockets of the unemployed while contributing to stimulating the economy.

Why are the Conservatives refusing to get rid of this unfair penalty?

[Employment Insurance, March 2nd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, not only is the Department of Human Resources and Skills Development being insensitive to the plight of unemployed workers by refusing to eliminate the two week waiting period, but it is further drawing out that waiting period by not having enough staff to deal with the increasing number of claims.

Will the minister immediately hire the additional staff needed to effectively deal with the increasing number of claims by thousands of people laid off because of the crisis?

[Budget Implementation Act, 2009, March 2nd, 2009]

Madam Speaker, I listened carefully to my colleague's speech. I must say that it raises a certain number of questions. I cannot ask them all but I would like to ask the following.

I know my colleague well enough to understand just how much he cares about social justice and wants fairness to prevail in this country. However, given that his party is preparing to vote for a law that will result in significant inequality between men and women and that will take away from women the right and the power to go before the courts to obtain pay equity, does he not believe that he is abdicating his responsibility and compromising on a fundamental principle of our society?

[L'Arrière Scène theatre, February 26th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the economic strength of culture in Montérégie is undeniable. It represents thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in economic benefits.

The L'Arrière Scène theatre in Beloeil is part of this economic force. It is a concrete example of the devastating impact of cuts to two programs, namely PromArt and Trade Routes. Since 1980, this dramatic arts centre for children and youth has gone on eight European tours, in Scandinavia to be exact. This year they cannot go.

By voting for this budget, the Liberals and the Conservatives have voted against promoting Quebec and Canadian culture abroad.

According to a study, 59% of tours scheduled for 2009-10 are threatened by the cuts to these programs. For the following seasons, 90% of tours are jeopardized. This is the result of a Conservative-Liberal coalition. Good work.

[Budget Implementation Act, 2009, February 11th, 2009]

Madam Speaker, I would first like to congratulate my colleague for Welland. He is correct, contrary to what the member for Glengarry—Prescott—Russell said. What our Conservative colleague must tell us is what he would do with those who are unemployed, who cannot find another job, who cannot be retrained because they cannot go to another job. Would he adopt the same measures, for example, as those he adopted for women? The conservatives have taken a right-wing stance.

Before asking my question, I will quickly remind them of the following: the Conservatives cut the national day care program; they cut assistance to women's offices—only 4 of 16 remain; they cut literacy programs. They even put in their economic statement—

[Budget Implementation Act, 2009, February 11th, 2009]

Madam Speaker, you keep chipping away at my time.

I thank my colleague who is quite right. That is what I was talking about earlier and he is right to bring it up again. I can give the example of a water treatment plant in a municipality in my riding, a municipality that had to move quickly a few years ago and assume more than 50% of the cost of the water treatment plant. I can say that this municipality is on the verge of bankruptcy simply because it assumed more than 15% or 25% of the cost of the water treatment plant.

This example demonstrates that most small and medium-sized municipalities are facing incredible challenges when it comes to infrastructure.