EI EI...oh.

June 01, 2009

June 1st, 2009 - People are being laid off around the country as a result of the global economic downturn.  Being without a job when all you want to do is work is agonizing.  That's why we have added $60 million in resources to the system.

We want to do everything possible to quickly get benefits to anyone who has been laid off.  That's why we've also added a huge amount of resources to the system to offer ways and means for people to be retrained.  As a matter of fact, if you've got a good work history with a strong attachment to the work force you could be eligible for up to 104 weeks of benefits as you learn a new trade. 

All of this and more appears to be not good enough for the Federal Liberals.  They want to introduce a new concept.  They want a 45 day work year. Say what?  Yes, you heard right. I'm almost afraid to report this because it may sound like a dream to a few people.

They are proposing that if you work for 45 days you should be able to claim your generous array of EI benefits for the rest of the year, courtesy of taxpayers.  The Liberals say its 360 hours, not 45 days that they're talking about.  Hmmm, if you can't do the math in your head then do it on your calculator.  Three hundred and sixty hours, divided into eight hour shifts equals 45 days.

As I said, we have aggressively increased resources for those who lose their jobs through no fault of their own.  We need to be there for people in difficult times.  However it would simply not be responsible to promote a '45 Day Work Year.' 

The Liberals however are doing more than just making this unrealistic demand. They are saying they will force an election unless we cave in to their threats.  Another election?  It's been like barely seven months since the last one!  I guess I'll let you be the judge if you think forcing another federal election right now is the responsible thing to do.

Talking about being responsible...how about listening to what the police have been saying about the National Sex Registry?  We have done just that. I was able to announce this week in Vancouver some overdue changes to protect Canadians from sexual predators.

First, it has never been mandatory for a convicted offender to register. Not a good plan. How many abusers do you think would be leaping forward to get their names on that list? So we're proposing to make it mandatory.

Secondly, the present law is flawed because police can't even use it to help prevent a crime. They can only consult it after a crime has been committed.  So, our new amendments will change that.  Police will be able to see the registry if there are, for example, reports of a suspicious character hanging around a school yard.

Third, convicted abusers must report to police if they are going to vacate their area for more than seven days. This will allow police to keep track of convicted sex offenders and finally, anyone convicted of sex crimes in another country must register when they return to Canada.

These much needed amendments are now being debated in the House of Commons. Good debate is one thing.   Needless delay and dilution is another matter all together.

The Federal Liberals and NDP have watered down or weakened much of our previous criminal justice improvements.  Let's hope they don't act that way on these changes which protect the vulnerable from sexual abuse.

I'll keep you posted.