Bill C-242 (Historical)

An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act (illness, injury or quarantine)

This enactment amends the Employment Insurance Act to increase from 15 to 50 the maximum number of weeks for which benefits may be paid because of illness, injury or quarantine.

Proceedings on the Bill Entitled an Act Relating to Certain Measures in Response to COVID-19

[Kristina Michaud, Bloc, Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QC]

Madam Speaker, I would remind hon. members that on behalf of the Bloc Québécois, my colleague from Salaberry—Suroît introduced in this Parliament Bill C-242, an act to amend the Employment Insurance Act. As my colleague from Thérèse-De Blainville was saying earlier, we should have had this kind of legislation on employment insurance 15 years ago.

By rushing through programs like this we quickly get a sense of their flaws. Instead of fixing them this summer, the government chose to prorogue Parliament and put democracy on hold.

Today, we are being asked to pass a bill at lightning speed without having the chance to hear from a single witness to help us uncover any possible weaknesses, such as identifying who is truly affected by the situation or even those who are taking advantage of these programs.

We know that the COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to act quickly, but is this not the right time to review the entire employment insurance system instead of bringing in even more programs? We could avoid recreating a program by piecemeal if we just accept that the Canada recovery benefit is also not a good fit for our reality.

The Environment

[Claude DeBellefeuille, Bloc, Salaberry—Suroît, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order.

On behalf of workers suffering from a serious illness, I would sincerely appreciate it if I could have unanimous consent for the following motion: That, notwithstanding any Standing Order or usual practices of the House, Bill C-242, An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act (illness, injury or quarantine), be deemed to have been read a second time and referred to a committee of the whole, deemed reported without amendment, deemed concurred in at report stage, and deemed read a third time and passed.

Employment Insurance Act

[Claude DeBellefeuille, Bloc, Salaberry—Suroît, QC]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-242, An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act (illness, injury or quarantine).

Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to table the bill to amend the Employment Insurance Act with regard to illness, injury or quarantine.

On February 19, the House of Commons unanimously voted in favour of a motion calling on the government to increase the special employment insurance sickness benefits from 15 weeks to 50 weeks in order to support people with serious illnesses, such as cancer.

In light of the current crisis, I fervently hope that the government will support the amendment proposed by the Bloc Québécois and the member for Salaberry—Suroît to help sick workers suffering from serious illnesses.

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