Human Resources committee  The intention of the new rate-setting mechanism in the CEIFB is not to cut rates but rather to ensure that rates charged to premium payers match the cost of running the program. That's why there's authority for the board to raise or lower, based on the needs in the program. The i

Finance committee  Hello, my name is Tamara Miller. I'm chief of the labour markets, employment and learning section at Finance Canada.

Finance committee  Again, I think that's a question with respect to the decision of the government. In terms of the measure itself, we can answer any questions in the technical--

Finance committee  Are you asking if there is a way of knowing whether the employees were retained for the year?

Finance committee  I don't think we have that information.

Finance committee  The calculation is based on approximation. I'm not sure of the exact calculation with respect to the numbers or whether the calculation is applied before or after. Do you have any idea?

Finance committee  That's the way it was presented in the budget. It's to make it a little bit easier for small businesses to hire new employees.

Finance committee  I'm afraid I can't answer that question. It's an assumption that I can't make.

Finance committee  The general response after the last budget was fairly positive. The CFIB, in fact, has asked for it to be extended yet again, which was done in budget 2012.

Finance committee  The general response in terms of doing a communications and media scan has been relatively positive. Certainly, the organizations that have raised the issue in pre-budget consultations have talked favourably of the credit from last year.

Finance committee  That's the stated intent in the budget, yes.

Finance committee  There have been lower insurance premiums.

Finance committee  Yes, it has been positively received.

Finance committee  From 2011, the data indicates that about 533,000 employers benefited from the credit.

Finance committee  Yes, and there are part-time employees. It's just the increase over their year before.