September 28, 2009

$1 Billion or $300 Million, Easy Choice Says NDP

(Kamloops) With unemployment approaching 10% in the Kamloops federal riding NDP candidate designate Michael Crawford wants parliament to keep on working to get much needed funds to unemployed workers and their families.

The Liberals launched a motion Monday aimed at bringing Parliament down and sending voters to an election that most don’t want. A vote on the motion is expected later this week.

“A bill that will increase benefits to unemployed workers by almost $1 billion is now working its way through the House” said Crawford. “It is irresponsible of the Liberals to try to bring the House down now and deny those benefits to tens of thousand of workers and their families.”

The bill, which extends the benefit period for some workers falls short of what New Democrats have been asking for. Those additional benefits include the elimination of the two-week period that forces workers to wait for benefits to kick in, uniform national qualifying hours, allowing self-employed workers to participate, raising the wage replacement rate from 55 to 60 per cent, and making it easier for workers to get training.

“The bill isn’t perfect but it will bring additional benefit to many families in and around Kamloops - families who are really hurting as we head into a cold winter” said Crawford.  “For some it will mean the difference between carrying on with EI benefits or getting pushed into the much lower social assistance benefit.”

“Given the choice, I would choose to support workers and families rather than have an election” said Crawford. “But let’s be clear, I am supporting this bill not this government.”