Bill C-542 (Historical)

An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act (illness of child) and another Act in consequence

This enactment amends the Employment Insurance Act to extend benefits to a claimant whose child has a serious medical condition that requires a parent to remain at home or with the child while the child receives care. It also amends the Canada Labour Code in consequence.

Employment Insurance Act

[Gord Brown, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville, ON]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-542, An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act (illness of child) and another Act in consequence.

Mr. Speaker, formal employment insurance programs that a parent of a critically ill child can access to provide income protection while the child is undergoing medically prescribed treatment do not exist. In most cases, this treatment takes the child away from school or out of day care and often can involve lengthy hospital stays.

Childhood cancer is on the rise, and more and more patients are surviving. Current treatments can last a minimum of six months to a maximum of three years. Of necessity, one parent becomes the primary caregiver for the child and is instructed by doctors and nurses on how to administer chemotherapy at home, along with other toxic drugs. These medications make a child very sick and quite often place him or her at risk of death from the side effects. Return to a normal routine, such as school or day care for the child and work for the parent, is almost impossible. There is no predictability. This will go on as long as the child is taking the medicine as prescribed by the oncologist.

I am pleased to introduce today a private member's bill that addresses this issue through employment insurance.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

[Pierre Paquette, Bloc, Joliette, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I seek the unanimous consent of the House to adopt the following motion: That the House acknowledge the 60th anniversary of the founding of the state of Israel and highlight that this is an opportunity to celebrate Israel's entry into the community of nations, its many cultural, economic and scientific achievements as a free, democratic society, and the special relationship between the governments of Canada and Israel; and that the House agree to reaffirm Canadians' unwavering support for Israel's right to live peacefully and safely within secure, recognized borders, for the peace efforts undertaken by the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority, and for the creation of a future democratic Palestinian state living peacefully and safely next to its Israeli neighbour within secure, recognized borders.

[The Speaker, Peter Milliken]

Does the hon. member for Joliette have the unanimous consent of the House to move this motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

No.

[The Speaker, Peter Milliken]

There is no consent.