NEWS RELEASE 

April 14, 1994    For Immediate Release 

BREITKREUZ PUTS UI CHANGES TO "TAXPAYERS' TEST"  

Garry Breitkreuz, MP for Yorkton-Melville speaking in the House of Commons today opposed Bill C-17, an Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled on February 22, 1994. 

Breitkreuz, a former teacher announced, "We put the Government's changes to the Unemployment Insurance Program to "The Taxpayers' Test" and they failed." Breitkreuz praised the government for the direction they were heading but encouraged them to move much faster. 

THE TAXPAYERS' TEST  

1. DO THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSALS MAKE THE UI PROGRAM FINANCIALLY SUSTAINABLE? NO - The cumulative deficit of the UI account as of December 31, 1994 is $6 billion!  
2. DO THE GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSALS HELP PEOPLE BECOME LESS DEPENDENT ON THE SYSTEM? A little, but how many will just turn to welfare - the entire income security system is sick and needs to be fixed!  
3. DO THE GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSALS REDUCE ABUSE OF THE UI SYSTEM? NO, abuse is still rampant. For example, there are now 43 "just cause" reasons which will allow job quitters to collect UI!  
4. ARE THE GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSALS FAIR AND DO THEY TREAT ALL CANADIANS THE SAME REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY LIVE? NO - the UI program still allows people to live in uneconomic regions of the country and become permanent wards of the state!  
5. DO THE EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES WHO PAY FOR THE UI PROGRAM WITH THEIR PREMIUMS, HAVE A REAL SAY IN HOW THEIR MONEY IS SPENT? NO - the government should democratize Unemployment Insurance and let the people who pay for it, run it!  
6. IS THE UI PROGRAM A TRUE INSURANCE PROGRAM? NO -unemployment insurance rewards repeaters and seasonal workers at the expense of permanent, full time workers!  

"The Government is still using the UI Program as a vehicle for social engineering," continued Breitkreuz. "The current UI system creates disincentives to work, reduces worker mobility, discourages self-employment, undermines personal and community initiative and impedes productivity for employers," said Breitkreuz. 

During his speech, Breitkreuz, while supportive of the cuts, pointed out that the Liberals never mentioned cutting UI benefits in their now famous "Red Book". "Even with a questionable mandate, I encourage the Honourable Lloyd Axworthy, Minister of Human Resources Development to ensure that the future changes now being planned for Unemployment Insurance are designed to pass The Taxpayers' Test," concluded Breitkreuz. 

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For more information please call: 

Yorkton: (306) 782-3309 

Ottawa:  (613) 992-4394