As many of you know, the liberals, when in Government, exploited the contributions of workers and businesses to the EI program. They raided those contributions in the EI Account for purposes other than what it was collected for, to help unemployed workers in time of need.

They siphoned off somewhere in the neighbourhood of $5 to $6 billion annually from the EI surplus. While we cannot retroactively reverse nearly a decade of shameful fiscal mismanagement, we can ensure this will never happen again.

Between 2006 and 2008, our Conservative Government cut the employee EI premium rate, bringing premiums to their lowest levels since 1982. In 2009, as part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, we froze EI premiums at that historically low level for two more years, through the end of 2010, to shield workers and businesses from the worst of the global economic downturn.

When that freeze is lifted, an independent body, the Canada Employment Insurance Financing Board, will set rates and manage the EI Account to maintain its balance going forward. This Board, created by our Conservative Government through legislation passed by Parliament in 2008, will prevent future governments from setting rates artificially high. Future premium rate increases or decreases will be the responsibility of this independent Board, capping any annual increase at 15 cents, should that be necessary.

In short, the old government used EI premiums paid by workers and businesses as a hidden payroll tax. Our action will ensure that the EI program will be treated like a true insurance plan for the benefit of Canadian workers.

ecoENERGY Retro-fit- Homes Program

In the Speech from the Throne, the Government of Canada reiterated its commitment to investing in the clean energy technologies of the future, making Canada a world leader in the green economy of tomorrow.

We also committed to reviewing our energy-efficiency and emissions-reductions programs to ensure they continue to be an effective and efficient use of Canadian tax dollars.

While the eco ENERGY Retrofit-Home program stopped accepted new applications as of April 1st, it is not coming to an end, nor is its benefits. Participants in the program will continue to undertake renovations and benefit from a grant right up to March 31, 2011, generating further greenhouse gas emissions reductions and contributing to a total of $7 billion in spinoff economic activity.

The remaining $300 million for homeowners currently in the program will continue to support our home renovation industry and deliver both economic and environmental benefits from coast to coast to coast.

We have a responsibility to taxpayers to ensure this program and every government program, operates within its existing budget for the purpose for which it was established. This is the kind of prudent fiscal management Canadians have come to expect from our Government which is recognized internationally for sound, fiscal management.

As your Federal Member of Parliament, I am pleased to represent you on a variety of issues. Whether that issue is eliminating the long gun registry, promoting agriculture, international trade, AECL, the military or jobs in the working forest, I am here to serve you!

As always, if you have any concerns of a federal nature, or just want to share your views with me, please do not hesitate to contact my office.

Office contact Information: Constituency Office of Cheryl Gallant, MP, 84 Isabella St., Pembroke On. K8A 5S5 or call 732-4404. There is no postage required when you write your Federal Member of Parliament.