An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code (bereavement leave)

This bill was last introduced in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session, which ended in August 2021.

Sponsor

Tom Kmiec  Conservative

Introduced as a private member’s bill. (These don’t often become law.)

Status

Outside the Order of Precedence (a private member's bill that hasn't yet won the draw that determines which private member's bills can be debated), as of June 3, 2021
(This bill did not become law.)

Summary

This is from the published bill. The Library of Parliament often publishes better independent summaries.

This enactment amends the Canada Labour Code to extend the period during which an employee may take a leave of absence from employment in the event of the death of a child under 18 years of age or for whom a caregiver credit can be claimed under the Income Tax Act and to provide for the entitlement of an employee to a leave of absence in the event of the loss of an unborn child.

Elsewhere

All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from the Library of Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.

Canada Labour CodeRoutine Proceedings

December 13th, 2021 / 3:20 p.m.
See context

Conservative

Tom Kmiec Conservative Calgary Shepard, AB

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-211, An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code (bereavement leave).

Mr. Speaker, there is a Yiddish proverb that says, “Everything ends in weeping.” I will not say it in Yiddish.

I want to thank the member for Bay of Quinte for seconding the bill. This private member's bill is like Bill C-307 from the last Parliament. It would introduce six weeks of leave for parents who are weeping for the children they lost. It would also introduce five days of leave for miscarriages, three paid days and two unpaid.

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

Criminal CodeGovernment Orders

December 3rd, 2021 / 12:30 p.m.
See context

Conservative

Tom Kmiec Conservative Calgary Shepard, AB

Mr. Speaker, I have a simple question for the Bloc Québécois member about an amendment he mentioned.

An amendment proposed by my colleague from Parry Sound—Muskoka could be included in Bill C‑3, either now at second reading or in committee. During the previous Parliament, I introduced Bill C‑307, which would amend the Canada Labour Code to include a six-week bereavement leave for parents who lose a child under the age of 18 and five days of paid and unpaid leave for women who lose an unborn child.

Would the Bloc Québécois be prepared to support this type of amendment?

Canada Labour CodeRoutine Proceedings

June 3rd, 2021 / 10:05 a.m.
See context

Conservative

Tom Kmiec Conservative Calgary Shepard, AB

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-307, An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code (bereavement leave).

Mr. Speaker, I am tabling this piece of legislation, thanks to my colleague from Manitoba for seconding it. It is very simple. It would provide eight weeks of unpaid leave under the Canada Labour Code for parents who lose a child under 18, as well as for parents who lose a child over 18, where they qualified for the caregiver tax credit as a dependent person with a disability. It would also apply to those who experience a stillbirth after 20 weeks or a child up to the age of 18. It would use the definition that the provinces have standardized across all provinces in Canada.

In Canada, the current bereavement system does not apply to dads and moms. Quite a few of my colleagues have suffered the loss of a child. I have suffered the loss of a child. The member for Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley also did not too long ago, as well as the member for Edmonton Centre, the member for Flamborough—Glanbrook and the member for Calgary Signal Hill. I am sure if we canvass the chamber, we will find many members who have experienced this loss in their lives.

The system that currently exists is deeply unfair to fathers and mothers who have suffered the loss of a child. The bereavement system in Canada needs to be fair, simple and compassionate.

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