Bill C-38 is about the Canadian economy
MP Dan Albas
Recently there has been a fair amount of discussion over Bill C-38. For those of you unfamiliar with Bill C-38, also known as the Jobs, Growth and Long-term Prosperity Act, this is the bill that implements the next phase of our government’s economic action as outlined in Budget 2012.
Budget 2012 is one of the most comprehensive and detailed economic initiatives in our history. It is not a secret that there remains considerable economic challenges worldwide and many Governments at all levels are facing incredible fiscal challenges and significant cost pressures. These types of problems often lead either to considerable austerity measures or massively increased debt, and more recently a threat of economic collapse in some regions where liabilities and public spending can no longer be covered.
Our government believes that taking action in these times is critical to keep our Canadian economy moving and ensuring that we focus on keeping Canadians employed and also securing revenue sources that help government to provide the services that Canadians depend upon.
In large part Budget 2012 focuses on responsible resource development initiatives and also tackles measured spending reductions in key areas. Most critics of Budget 2012 that I have heard from either oppose Bill C-38 for a specific reason relating to an identified area of disagreement, or for the fact that they would prefer to see a simpler and more basic budget that dealt with fewer issues in one document.
It is true that Budget 2012 is a very comprehensive budget and tackles many different but important challenges. However it is also important to recognize that many of these challenges have been long overdue and require attention.
For example, one area proposed for action under Bill C-38 is much needed changes to our national Unemployment Insurance system, commonly called “EI”. Why is it important to make changes to EI? One example many in the Okanagan are aware of is the “temporary foreign worker” program, referred to as TFW. Many citizens I have heard from support Canadians working instead of bringing in temporary foreign workers.
Yet as we know here in the Okanagan, each year many in the agricultural sector are forced to bring in temporary foreign workers, often from Mexico, due to a shortage of local labour being available. At the same time I am fairly certain that most taxpayer’s would be surprised if not shocked to learn that while temporary foreign worker applications are being filed there was recently over 5,700 EI claims in B.C. alone for general farm workers.
It is not unlike in Alberta where there have been over 1,200 applications for foreign workers in the food services industry while over 350 persons are currently collecting EI in that sector. In most every province there are trends where there is an increase in the applications for foreign workers in sectors where there are Canadians collecting EI.
Our government believes it is important to connect Canadians with available jobs first as part of our Economic Action plan and that is why proposed EI changes are included in Bill C-38.
Another example of some of the proposed changes is to the Fisheries Act and Navigable Waters Act. Currently these acts suffer from decades old “one size” fits all Ottawa imposed legislation that is outdated and ignores commons sense.
To illustrate, look no further then the rather popular Penticton past time of floating down the Okanagan River Channel. Okanagan residents have known for the past 50 years that you could never navigate a sailboat through this channel on account of the flood control work, dams and fixed bridges constructed over the past decades. Yet today any new project is subject to the Navigable Waters Act in a manner as if the channel was actually navigable.
Currently the Act does not provide the flexibility to reflect the obvious and trying to resolve these types of regulatory burdens delays important economic projects precisely as is occurring with a proposed economic project that is of significant importance to the Penticton Indian Band.
Unfortunately I am well out of space, otherwise I would share further examples of the need to take action and keep moving Canada forward by supporting jobs and bringing more flexibility and common sense into our regulations to help keep Canada strong.
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“Why is it important to make changes to EI? One example many in the Okanagan are aware of is the “temporary foreign worker” program, referred to as TFW. Many citizens I have heard from support Canadians working instead of bringing in temporary foreign workers.”
Mr. Albas you obviously never listen to the CBC or someone writes your script for you. A farmer was saying the exact opposite to you. He states that because of the new changes to EI, workers he has had for 12 years will now have to find full time work somewhere else in the country. They chose to have a reduced income and collect EI so that they could continue to work for him. He will now have to hire untrained foreign workers to work on his farm for seasonal work.
Mr. Abbas I think you only have a little bit of the picture, and have not examined the full implications of the changes your party, and my government is proposing.
On changes to environmental rules and regulations I don’t even know where to start. But I suggest you look at the news today… a break in an oil pipeline is threatening to contaminate the drinking water of thousands of Canadians.
Canadians will hold you personally responsible for what happens to the Canadian environment as a result of inadequate protection. How much money are you spending on advertising the ‘wonders’ of the Tar Sands operations in Alberta, “Jobs for everyone”? Maybe some of that money could be spent more productively on protecting our unique, rich and natural environment?
In regards to the EI.. this picture says “An employee quits = NO IE. A minister quits = 122,000$ bonus paycheck”
http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/539915_4087931684757_597092393_n.jpg
The minister portrayed in the picture is the Education one in QC who did quit 2 weeks ago in regards to Bill 78. We all know that the same apply in Ottawa. Maybe again the Fed should make cuts elsewhere?
I also made a personal pledge to have my deputee, Christine Moore, from NPD, to bring the IE workers case to Ottawa with real life examples to show that this insurance program is everything but good the way it is right now. Did you know that about only 50% of people that contribute to it actually have the right from receiving it if they lose their jobs?
What makes me angry is the construction workers… they get 2 weeks of pay vacation during summer time, but they’re allowed to start their IE request during that period, so they don’t have to wait the 2 weeks during the winter seasonal cut off. And most of them are paid 30$+ an hour.
Maybe Harper should invest in the IE program instead of making cuts. Is it normal to get the msg that they are receiving too many calls so we can’t get to them, when we actually need to talk to them?
Normal that ONCE we get the line, we have to wait over 30-45 minutes to talk to someone?
Normal to wait OVER 35 days before getting the first cheque?
Normal to be cut for OVER 30 days when the IE have to recalculate something, and THEY are the ones that owe us money?
Normal to be told by IE there’s a foodbank to rely to when you ask them how you’re going to eat because they hold your account for over a month because of THEIR mistakes?
Normal it takes them 2 months to make a change of address between two different provinces? Lol technology man!
The new program is asking workers to accept ANY job if they haven’t found a DECENT one in a certain lapse of time.
Maybe Harper should think that Okanagan farm jobs aren decent ones… oh right 9.50$ an hour under a 30degree sun hahaha. Or maybe you should consider a new farmer career. Haven’t noticed most of the farmers owners are from a different country and live in multi-million dollar homes? I wonder why?
Shortage of work in the Okanagan = ask for a raise and you get fired. There’s plenty of workers that are willing to work for a lower wage around Kelowna.
Oh yeah.. Bill C38 is asking us, mortals, to retire at age 67. Right… PM and Parliaments can retire MUCH sooner.. They don’t bother for sure! It’s good for the economy. The elderly pay taxes longer, bringing money to Ottawa.
Someone must read the 1000 pages of the bill to really see that Harper is killing the country in various ways for the profit of tar sand businesses.
Thank you Canada.