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House Hansard - 61

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
April 29, 2022 10:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 61 - Apr/29/22
Ms. Andréanne Larouche (Shefford, BQ)
  • Apr/29/22 11:57:10 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, there is a fraud epidemic at Service Canada, and the federal government is doing nothing to help victims. In my riding alone, over 175 people have come to me for help. Ottawa is withholding their benefits because they have been the victims of fraud. The fraudsters are the ones who should be punished, not the victims. As we speak, thousands of people across Quebec have lost their jobs and are being denied employment insurance. When will the government stop penalizing victims of fraud and give them their money?
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Context: House Hansard - 61 - Apr/29/22
Ms. Ya'ara Saks (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, Lib.)
  • Apr/29/22 11:57:52 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for her question. We recognize the concern and the hardship of identity theft and attempted EI fraud that has happened to many Canadian families, particularly in Quebec. The department has seen an increase in the attempt in fraudulent activity and we know it has impacted the benefit payments of many individuals. In response to the situation, the minister has expressed her concern to officials and then asked officials to explore ever effort possible to assist Canadians in combatting fraudulent activity in their accounts and to make sure that their benefits are secured and received in a timely manner. This includes adding approximately 150 investigators who are dedicated to resolving these issues in Quebec.
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Context: House Hansard - 61 - Apr/29/22
Mr. Sébastien Lemire (Abitibi—Témiscamingue, BQ)
  • Apr/29/22 11:58:34 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, nearly a hundred people in the riding of Abitibi—Témiscamingue have contacted me because they paid into EI their whole lives but are not getting a cent. Why? It is because they are the victims of fraud. Thousands of Quebeckers are in this situation. The cost of living is skyrocketing. Service Canada has been withholding income from honest people, since November in some cases. We need to investigate and punish the guilty parties, not hold the victims hostage. When will the government give workers the insurance benefits they paid into their whole lives? This is causing people anxiety, undermining their dignity and affecting their mental health.
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Context: House Hansard - 61 - Apr/29/22
Ms. Ya'ara Saks (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, Lib.)
  • Apr/29/22 11:59:17 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, as I mentioned previously, we are doing everything we can to ensure that the EI services and support that Canadians have paid into are received by them in a timely manner. We recognize the concern and the hardship that they are experiencing through fraud, and we are working diligently with officials to make sure they receive their benefits in an integrated action plan. We have increased our EI call centre and Service Canada centre officers to be trained to address these hardships and to be a first point of contact for those who are experiencing them. We will continue to work diligently with our officials to make sure that people receive the benefits they deserve.
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