Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the member for Brant, further to the comments by the member for Burnaby—New Westminster.
Once again, concerning the employment insurance fund, the member says that it is adjusted according to the employment situation. Would it not be more accurate to say that the rules concerning the fund were adjusted based on the needs of the fund rather than on the needs of the unemployed?
I want to ask the member if he realizes that the rules have been changed and that now only 38% of the people who were entitled to employment insurance in 1995 are now eligible. There is a reduction. Presently, according to the rules that existed in 1995, less than 40% of the unemployed are now entitled to employment insurance benefits.
Does the member realize that? How can he explain that the bill disregards that and establishes a separate fund which will be managed by both parties?