Evidence of meeting #52 for Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was child.
A recording is available from Parliament.
10:40 a.m.
Liberal
10:40 a.m.
Conservative
10:40 a.m.
Liberal
10:40 a.m.
NDP
Jean Rousseau NDP Compton—Stanstead, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I did not mean to put you on the spot with the question I asked you earlier. I was really trying to point out that there are three different measures for three situations that require specific consideration, whether they involve victims or the caregivers of a sick child.
This next question is mostly about the drugs.
Ms. Roy, you just said that the medications are very expensive and that no real assistance is available, except for people with insurance coverage.
Having been in contact with victims of kidnapping and crime, I know these individuals need professional care for years. The parents, brothers, sisters and cousins who are overlooked in these situations also need to be looked after.
Ms. Roy, do you think this bill should include benefits not just for medication, but also for professional counselling?
10:40 a.m.
As an Individual
Yes, you are absolutely right. Take my situation, for example. My employer covers two sessions of psychological counselling, and that's it. Quite frankly, I need a lot more than that. I need to vent, but I can't afford the treatment. A session costs $125, and my insurance covers only $20. Obviously, I can't afford that treatment for myself or my children. And my daughter Sabrina needs it.
I asked the people at CHEO if parents could access those services, but I was told they were only for children. It would be wonderful if the service were available. These children need emotional support from their mothers and fathers, but as you can see from all my tears, we need support as well.
10:40 a.m.
NDP
10:40 a.m.
Liberal
The Vice-Chair Liberal Rodger Cuzner
Colleagues, the bells are ringing. It's a half-hour bell.
We would need unanimous support, but we still have witnesses. I think we could complete a round. I ask for unanimous support.
10:40 a.m.
Some hon. members
Agreed.
10:40 a.m.
The Chair
Okay, I see that. Carry on.
10:40 a.m.
NDP
Mike Sullivan NDP York South—Weston, ON
First I'd like to thank you again. It is very difficult, I know, for all of you to have to first go through this and then to come here and talk about it, which means going through it again in your minds. I understand that it is difficult.
One of the things we hope to do is make this bill better and perhaps make it more flexible. I certainly have heard many people talk about the age of 18 being too arbitrary. It doesn't make sense in a lot of ways in a lot of cases, so we hope to convince the other side to change that.
I want to get some idea of something from the three of you. Perhaps, Edwina, you'd have the most knowledge about it. There are lots of times when this kind of need goes well beyond a year, I would think, yet there's a limit of a year in this legislation in terms of how long a leave you can take. Maybe it needs to be something you can spread out in bits and pieces, as was described earlier.
Can you comment on how prescriptive this needs to be or whether we should be much more flexible in the application?
10:45 a.m.
As an Individual
The need goes well beyond one year. We try to get youngsters into remission in five years, if we are fortunate enough.
The flexibility is very important also. I agree with the people who are here today. I have gone through it myself personally. This is why I started the foundation, because we are trying to give them as much help as possible. Anyone can apply to it, but we cannot do anything further. It's here that you need to really look at this bill and ask whether this amount of time and money—which will be flexible, of course—will be sufficient to help our Canadian families stay together and grow together and help these children get going.
As I have said before—which I don't like to say—70% of our 82% survivorship are going to have more difficulty, whether it's cognitive problems, sterility, or all kinds of other physical problems. However, they are such beautiful people. They have done very well in their chosen fields that they have decided to grow up into. They need to be supported as well through this, if it's possible.
10:45 a.m.
Liberal
The Vice-Chair Liberal Rodger Cuzner
Thank you very much for the round. We went a little bit over.
As has been expressed by many of the members of the committee today, we very much appreciate your testimony and your taking the time to share these very personal and powerful stories. Thank you again for your testimony.
The meeting is adjourned.
