The federal Liberals have taken a lot of flack over it and now they’re gearing up to decide what to do with the $19-billion Employment Insurance surplus when MPs return to work Sept. 21.
Local MP Robert Nault said he believed the surplus would be dealt with this fall but felt it might take some time and be included in the February budget.
“I expect that that issue will be on the top of the priority list for the fall sitting,” Nault said during a visit here Friday. “There are a number of options at this point.”
Those options include cutting premiums, putting the dollars into health care, a tax cut and other priority services, or pumping some dollars back into the EI system in benefits and training.
And this being the second year in their second term, Nault felt the Liberal government would focus on key areas of the economy, including working out a joint funding program with the province for highways.
“That’s being discussed now,” he noted.
Meanwhile, as for a new Canada Customs facility here, Nault said he hoped there could be some sort of announcement this fall but stressed it depended on how things went.
“That’s one of the priorities I’m going to be focusing on this fall,” he pledged, noting they were at the final stages of negotiations between Boise Cascade, Abitibi-Consolidated, and the federal government.
Once that happens, Nault said there would have to be consultation within the community and with other partners to ensure the proposed new facility meets the needs of the region.
“We hope to see the consultation start soon,” he added.
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