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Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 175

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
March 29, 2023 02:00PM
Context: House Hansard - 175 - Mar/29/23
Mr. Jagmeet Singh (Burnaby South, NDP)
  • Mar/29/23 2:34:46 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the government is not meeting the urgency of the crisis with the steps required. We are proud we forced this government to create a dental care program. We are proud we forced this government to double the GST credit, which will save families a lot of money. However, there is more work to be done. Economists have made it clear that a recession is very likely coming our way. When will this Prime Minister introduce an EI system that covers all workers?
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Context: House Hansard - 175 - Mar/29/23
Mr. Jagmeet Singh (Burnaby South, NDP)
  • Mar/29/23 2:53:39 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, economists are warning that a recession is very likely coming our way. The reality is that the debate is not about whether or not it is coming, but about how big or small it is. Workers are staring down the face of a recession with an EI program that does not cover all workers. Unions, leaders and organizers have all raised the concern and alarm bells that we need an EI system that works. When will this government fix EI so that it is there for every worker?
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Context: House Hansard - 175 - Mar/29/23
Mr. Daniel Blaikie (Elmwood—Transcona, NDP)
  • Mar/29/23 5:17:34 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I completely agree with the member for Joliette regarding the problems with the current EI system. I would like him to talk a little more about the importance of a good EI system in a country that is facing a recession.
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Context: House Hansard - 175 - Mar/29/23
Mr. Gabriel Ste-Marie
  • Mar/29/23 5:17:54 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Elmwood—Transcona for his question and his legitimate concerns. The government has been promising to reform the EI system since 2015. Since last fall, analysts and economists have been telling us to be careful because there is a risk of a recession. Whether big or small, there is going to be a recession. We know that the most important automatic stabilizer in a recession is employment insurance. We know that the EI system is not working. Just four out of 10 people who lose their job are covered. Things have gotten so bad that Minister Morneau suspended the program at the outset of the pandemic because it just was not working. He decided instead to implement costly, improvised short-term programs. That cost a fortune and it was not effective. The EI system needs to be reformed now.
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