Employment Insurance  Mr. Speaker, the current appeals process for employment insurance is expensive and slow. Fewer than one in three claims is actually heard in 30 days. The new Social Security Tribunal will continue to provide a fair, fast and accessible appeals process for Canadians by eliminating duplication.

Employment Insurance  Mr. Speaker, the member for Leeds—Grenville's private member's bill was an important step in the process to create this new EI benefit. I am pleased to report that the new special benefit was available as of Sunday. In fact, the first applications have already been received. This will provide up to 35 weeks of EI to parents so they can focus on the care of their critically ill or injured children.

Housing  Mr. Speaker, the pyrrhotite issue falls under provincial jurisdiction. In August 2011, the Government of Quebec launched a provincial program to provide financial assistance to homeowners coping with pyrrhotite damage. People concerned about the pyrrhotite problem should contact the province's housing corporation, the Société d'habitation du Québec.

Intergovernmental Relations  Mr. Speaker, we want to work with the provinces so that training flows from the government to employers and available workers. There are too many jobs sitting vacant in Canada because employers cannot find workers with the right skills. Our initiatives will help employers fill available positions by hiring Canadians who want to work.

Relay for Life  Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to speak about a great charity event that occurs nationwide, the Relay for Life. The relay is an inspirational 12-hour overnight event that brings our communities together to fight cancer. At the Relay for Life, teams gather with cancer survivors on their local tracks and walk or run throughout the entire evening.

Government Priorities  Mr. Speaker, as the member opposite knows, employment insurance premiums are paid by both workers and employers. Let us be very clear. We are focused on making sure that employment insurance is available for those who need it when they, through no fault of their own, are not able to be employed.

Government Appointments  Mr. Speaker, our government makes appointments based on merit. The Social Security Tribunal positions were widely advertised. The members appointed were subject to a rigorous competency-based selection process and had to meet specific criteria relating to the experience and competencies required to perform these duties.

Government Appointments  Mr. Speaker, I will say this again in English to be very clear. Our government makes appointments based on merit. Positions on the Social Security Tribunal were advertised broadly. Members appointed went through a rigorous, competency-based selection process where they had to meet specific experience and competency criteria in order to have the roles.

Science and Technology  Mr. Speaker, this government is extremely proud of its scientists and its record for supporting science and research in the country. Since the Prime Minister launched our country's science and technology strategy in 2007, we have made substantial investments to strengthen Canada's research advantages.

Science and Technology  Mr. Speaker, I am happy to respond to the comments made earlier by the hon. member. Since the Prime Minister launched our country's science and technology strategy in 2007, we have made substantial investments to strengthen Canada's research advantage. Since 2006, our government has provided more than $9 billion in new resources to support science, technology and growth in innovative businesses.

Employment Insurance  Mr. Speaker, there is nothing secretive about our intent to prevent fraud and the abuse of taxpayers' money. Part of the mandate of Service Canada's integrity services branch is to enforce the Employment Insurance Act and its regulations. A number of provisions in the act refer to administrative penalties and restitutions.

Employment Insurance  Mr. Speaker, as I already mentioned, last year nearly half a billion dollars in ineligible payments were detected and stopped by Service Canada. The purpose of EI is to support those who have lost their job due to no fault of their own. Service Canada has been clear that it does not have quotas, as there are no consequences for not meeting service delivery targets.

Economic Action Plan 2013 Act, No. 1  Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned in my speech, our government has actually lowered taxes more than 150 times since coming into office. The average family of four pays $3,200 less in tax each year. That means they have $3,200 in their pockets to spend where they like to spend it, on their families.

Economic Action Plan 2013 Act, No. 1  Mr. Speaker, infrastructure in our country is essential to making sure we can actually grow our economy. In my riding of Simcoe—Grey, we have learned first hand from investments in infrastructure how valuable that is, and that is because of the opportunity for the municipalities in my riding to have access to the funds through the gas tax.

Economic Action Plan 2013 Act, No. 1  Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned in my speech, our government has created a number of tax savings options, whether it be the TFSA, which I think is an excellent tool for Canadians to save and then be able to access their funds, or whether that be lowering taxes so Canadians actually have the money in their own pockets and can make their own decisions with respect to it.