Human Resources committee  Yes, it will be, but all I'm saying is in the prior year, the minister can say, "I want you to set a rate that will enable me to make these kinds of changes that are going to cost $200 million, so make sure the revenue is there to pay for that change."

Human Resources committee  Maybe I'll start with your first one on the pilot projects. The intent of the pilot projects is very much to do a test. What the pilot project basically allows you to do is to set aside some of the rules within the EI Act to test, in a particular region or with a particular group

Human Resources committee  I'll turn to Bill to answer that.

Human Resources committee  On your point about the rate-setting mechanism and will it tend to limit the potential to increase benefits, when the commission is looking at the rate for the future year, at that point, during that prior year, the minister can signal at any point her intent to make changes and

Human Resources committee  You're not completely right, but you're right on one point.

Human Resources committee  Well, I'll explain it and let's see if we both agree. Yes, prior to EI you had to work at least 15 hours per week to get an insurable week of work. It meant that you had 12 weeks of 15 hours and you could qualify in the highest unemployment regions. But that week-based system a

Human Resources committee  I certainly cannot speak to the account. Whether or not the program itself is fair and equitable and good policy in terms of assisting the unemployed is one thing. How the government decides to manage the premiums and the benefits.... Because it's integrated with the books of Can

Human Resources committee  Mr. Godin, to your point, yes, you're right.

Human Resources committee  As perhaps Mr. Lessard knows, I cannot answer that last question. Obviously, whether all or any of those recommendations get accepted is in the hands of the government to decide. I guess I would just make two really quick comments, one on the number of unemployed covered by the

Human Resources committee  One thing I would say is that in the operation of the EI program we do not insure individuals. It actually insures the work. So the EI program actually insures the job. In the design of the EI program, you are actually looking at the nature of work; you're not looking at the actu

Human Resources committee  Thank you for the question. As an official, I cannot state what the government intends to do in terms of the decision. All I can say is that Minister Finley is certainly looking at the issue, and has consulted certainly with you and with other MPs. I think a decision, obviously,

Human Resources committee  The minister has certainly not recommended to us that we end the pilot. As I said, she is still considering all of the options in terms of whether the pilot should continue, whether it should be adjusted, or whether it should simply end. She has not made a decision, so she has

Human Resources committee  The full evaluation of the pilot has obviously not been completed. The pilot is still running. We obviously have not had time to fully evaluate what the impact has been. You need the time to actually track these individuals to see how much time they worked, how much time they act

Human Resources committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. My name is Diane Carroll, and I'm the assistant deputy minister for employment programs with the Department of Human Resources and Social Development Canada. I'm joined by my colleague, Réal Bouchard, from the Department of Finance, and by Bill James, also