House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2015, with 28% of the vote.
Employment Insurance October 2nd, 2006
Mr. Speaker, last week, when the budget surplus was paid toward the debt, $2 billion came from the surplus in the employment insurance fund.
Since this has now been the case for several years, will the government admit that by using the $2 billion in surplus employment insurance money it is making the jobless pay a sizeable portion of the debt out of the benefit cuts that thousands of them are being forced to endure?
Older Workers September 26th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, older workers who are affected by mass layoffs are the ones who are hardest hit by job losses, since most of the time it is impossible for them to find employment because of their age.
How can the government take money from the unemployed and at the same time refuse to put in place a real income support program for older workers, to bridge the gap between job loss and pension plan eligibility? Why does it refuse to do this?
Older Workers September 25th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, all the studies have been done. What is needed now is for the decisions to be applied.
For example, 350 Wolverine Tube workers have just lost their jobs. About 20 of them have 40 years of service and are over the age of 55. Not only have these employees lost their jobs, but they also have the misfortune to live in Montreal, a region where the proposed program would not apply.
Does this example not show the inflexibility of the program, particularly when it would give workers who are 55 and over only one year to find work? We might as well say that the government is abandoning them to their fate and they should expect no further good to come from this government.
Older Workers September 25th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, these are not rumours; the information that the minister’s office is giving workers is similar to what the leader of the Bloc Québécois is saying.
According to that information, the federal government, contrary to what it suggested in the Speech from the Throne and in the budget speech, will shortly be proposing a one-year plan for some older workers in some regions, instead of a real support program for older workers.
Does the federal government intend to honour its commitments and create a real income support program for older workers, so that they will truly be able to bridge the time between employment insurance and the Canada Pension Plan?
Employment Insurance September 21st, 2006
Mr. Speaker, in its February 2005 report, the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities recommended an overhaul of the employment insurance program. In response to those recommendations, the Bloc Québécois introduced Bill C-269, which will be reviewed today in this House, in order to improve the employment insurance system.
The minister must realize that passing this bill would provide a permanent solution for real reform of the employment insurance system. Will she support the bill?
Canada Transportation Act September 19th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, I would also congratulate the member for Alfred-Pellan on his speech. He spoke earlier about vibrations and the obstruction of municipal access roads. I thought I understood him to say, however, that he is particularly concerned about marshalling yards and all the activity that they generate.
My colleague from Berthier—Maskinongé asked a question about the obstruction of access roads. I offer the example of my constituency, Chambly—Borduas. Trains, rail lines, go through 10 of the 12 towns that make up that constituency, and one of them, Saint-Basile-le-Grand, has two access roads. Sometimes a train stops at the municipal access roads for a long time. We had one occasion when a train stopped for an hour and a half. If there were an emergency in the municipality, or for some other reason, this would create a major problem. And yet the act already contained monitoring provisions. I would like to know whether the committee has studied this aspect.
As well, is this in fact fuelling debate in order to get the bill amended? As my colleague said earlier, this bill makes no provision in that regard.
Older Workers September 19th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, an assistance program for older workers who have been victims of massive layoffs is required not only for the softwood lumber industry but in all industries, in all regions, as in the case of the Saint-Émile shoe factory in the Quebec City area.
Given that the government acknowledged the importance of such a program in the throne speech and in the budget, does it intend to follow up on its commitment and put in place a true assistance program for older workers who lose their jobs as a result of massive layoffs?
Older Workers June 22nd, 2006
Mr. Speaker, the government prefers war over compassion. The federal government is preparing to invest close to $15 billion to procure all kinds of military equipment: aircraft, vehicles and ships.
How can it be so easy for the federal government to find $15 billion to buy war materiel, but not $100 million to help older workers and their families?
Program for Older Worker Adjustment June 20th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, Magog, Huntingdon, Montmagny, the Gaspé, Saguenay and Quebec City are all cities and regions experiencing the serious problem of layoffs of older workers and calling for the establishment of an assistance program for older workers. There are individuals and families whose last vestige of hope is fading with the government's inaction.
When will the government show that it is sympathetic to the plight of older workers who have lost their jobs? This session of Parliament is coming to a close and so time is of the essence.
Program for Older Worker Adjustment June 20th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, at the request of the Bloc Québécois, the government agreed to include POWA in the throne speech. Again at the request of the Bloc Québécois, the government mentioned it in its budget. We forwarded our cost studies to the Minister of Finance, at his request. We also forwarded our research on this subject to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development. In brief, the Bloc Québécois has done everything it can to help the government put a POWA in place.
What is the government waiting for to take action?