Employment Insurance Act  Mr. Speaker, I welcome the opportunity to join the debate on Bill C-280 proposed by the hon. member for Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing. The bill seeks to change a number of provisions of the Employment Insurance Act regarding benefit calculations and qualifications. Before I address the bill, I would like to speak about our government's responsible and substantial actions to help Canadians get back to work through our unprecedented investments in skills development and programs that will help Canadians prepare for the jobs of the future.

World Red Cross Red Crescent Day  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honour of World Red Cross Red Crescent Day, and also to mark the centennial anniversary of the passing of the Canadian Red Cross Society Act. It was 100 years ago this month that an act of Parliament established the Canadian Red Cross to serve Canadians in accordance with the Geneva conventions.

Corporate Accountability of Mining, Oil and Gas Corporations in Developing Countries Act  Mr. Speaker, it is my great pleasure to rise in the House today to speak about our Conservative government's commitment to promoting corporate social responsibility, or CSR practices, for extractive sector companies operating abroad. I am very encouraged by the progress our government has made over the years with regard to CSR.

The Economy  Mr. Speaker, our government is taking action on the economy by working with the provinces to accelerate infrastructure spending to create jobs and to improve our communities. Just yesterday, a big announcement was made at the University of Manitoba. Could the minister from Winnipeg please explain more about the investments our government is making, through the building Canada fund, at the University of Manitoba?

Child Care  Mr. Speaker, yesterday we learned from The Epoch Times that the leader of the Liberal Party wants to do away with our $1,200 per child universal child care benefit. Could the minister of HRSD comment on the Liberal leader's latest pledge to take choice in child care away from parents?

Committees of the House  Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the second report of the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities in relation to the Canada summer jobs initiative.

Corporate Social Responsibility and the Canadian Extractive Industry in Developing Countries  Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to present to the House information about our Conservative government's efforts to promote and encourage corporate social responsibility principles and standards throughout Canada's extractive sector. I want to thank the hon. member for Pierrefonds—Dollard as I can appreciate the intent of Motion No. 283 calling for the government to act immediately to implement the measures contained in the advisory group report produced following the national round tables on corporate social responsibility and the Canadian extractive industry in developing countries.

Employment Insurance  Mr. Speaker, the EI work sharing program is designed to avoid layoffs by offering EI income benefits to workers willing to work a reduced workweek while their employer recovers. Yesterday the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development was pleased to announce that the EI work sharing program has been extended by 14 weeks to a maximum of 52 weeks.

Business of Supply  Madam Speaker, this is a concern that has been raised in the House and I know the minister has committed additional resources. As has been mentioned by previous colleagues, we have people coming in from retirement, people working overtime and people who are putting in all the extra hours they can to get these claims processed as quickly and as efficiently as possible.

Business of Supply  Madam Speaker, as we talked to people across the country, trying to come up with what was needed, extending benefits was one of the things. However, by no means is that the only measure the government is looking at. We have committed billions of dollars for training and retraining.

Business of Supply  Madam Speaker, I enjoy working with the member in the trade committee, and he is no less animated there, I can assure the House. It boils down to a difference in philosophy in terms of how we look at it, which is why we here debating this measure and why, as a government, we talked to people.

Business of Supply  Madam Speaker, I stand today to speak to the motion presented by the member for Hamilton Mountain. I realize that the member has good intentions but we disagree in terms of the methodology in the way in which we would handle unemployment. I will speak to that today in terms of what our government is doing to respond to the challenging times that we have in the economy.

Canadian Executive Service Organization  Mr. Speaker, I would like to draw to the attention of the House a constituent in my riding, Mr. Douglas Johnson, who resides in the town of Fenwick, Ontario. Mr. Johnson recently completed an assignment with the Canadian Executive Service Organization, or CESO, in Serbia. CESO is a non-profit organization that works to build strong independent communities around the world.

Health and Safety  Mr. Speaker, the Conservative government has consistently demonstrated its commitment to protecting the health and safety of Canadians. In budget 2009, the government made significant investments into improving health care for all Canadians. As well, this Conservative government recently brought forward legislation to strengthen consumer product safety in Canada.

Hockeyville  Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to congratulate my constituents in the town of Lincoln who have been recognized as a top 10 finalist in the 2009 Kraft hockeyville competition. I want to wish them the best of luck as they attempt to become a top five finalist. Sponsored by Kraft Canada, the CBC and the NHL, the hockeyville contest pits communities across Canada against each other in a friendly competition to determine which community best embodies the hockeyville-loving spirit and becomes known as true hockeyville.