Finance committee  I think the current system fails to address issues of procedural fairness. Whether it's the old system or the current system, there should certainly be a tripartite.... There should be more opportunity for in-person hearings. A lot of the powers should be taken away from the curr

Finance committee  There's a huge access-to-justice movement in this country, spearheaded largely by Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin. It certainly informs a large part of our work, because information, advice, and representation are absolutely essential to people to be able to exercise their right

Finance committee  Thank you for the opportunity to be here today. I didn't have an opportunity to submit a written submission previously. I was invited a few weeks ago while I was in Europe to appear today. I'm sorry that I don't have anything prepared for you. I can certainly follow up. I want

Human Resources committee  In terms of protecting the fund, there is, with all due respect, that nasty matter of the $57 billion. We certainly want to ensure that nothing like that happens again. This was a fund that was paid into by workers and employers. The integrity of the fund needs to be maintained s

Human Resources committee  First, I want to thank the committee for undertaking this important work, and I want to thank you all for the opportunity to be here today. As with Robert and, I suspect, many other witnesses, given the short notice, I haven't had time to prepare a written submission in advance,

Human Resources committee  I'm happy that Lynne talked about the consequences of poverty. Historically, governments seldom match the revenue side with the expenditure side. There is a cost to be associated with people and poverty. Health care costs rise, as we know. All kinds of studies have been done for

Human Resources committee  Mr. Lessard, on the kinds of changes in EI reform that would be helpful, easy entrance requirements for EI would help people get out of poverty. When we moved from an hours-based system to a weeks-based system, it required workers to work two and a half to three times longer to q

Human Resources committee  That's correct.

Human Resources committee  First of all, let me begin by thanking the committee for the opportunity to be here today. I want to begin by telling you a bit about our organization, and then you'll understand the nature of my presentation. I must say I'm somewhat embarrassed that I didn't have time to prepare

Status of Women committee  Certainly with great difficulty. In the case of Kelly Lesiuk, for example, we received up to $50,000 in case funding. Although that didn't entirely cover all the legal costs, it was the maximum available under that program. So it certainly helped to influence the decision by Lega

Status of Women committee  It's an interesting idea to take the compassionate care out of the EI legislation. I just wouldn't want to see it put in a more vulnerable position. It's sort of nice when it's entrenched in a program that is a pillar of our social fabric in Canada. Having said that, I'm sure t

Status of Women committee  I'll try to be attentive to the clock. I'll just tell you a bit about the Unemployed Help Centre. We are a small local organization based in Winnipeg, so many of you will perhaps not be familiar with the work we do. We were created in 1980 and we are a non-profit, community-bas