Bill C-211

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

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.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Thank you.

I think I'm going to get quite a lot of time to speak today. That's unfortunate, because I have a bit of a raspy voice.

For clause 11, the amendment that I'm bringing forward is that Bill S-211 in clause 11 be amended:

(a) by replacing line 21 on page 6 with the following:

“tion to forced labour and child labour, including its code of conduct, if any;”

(b) by replacing lines 24 and 25 on page 6 with the following:

“and the steps it has taken to assess and eliminate that risk;

(c.1) a summary of any reports it received in relation to the use of forced labour or child labour in respect of which there is credible or trustworthy evidence, as well as the steps taken by the entity to remediate each occurrence;”

(c) by adding after line 32 on page 6 the following:

“(e.1) any consultations with communities affected by forced labour or child labour;”

This amendment adds to the reporting requirement. It requires a reference to the code of conduct for each entity on the steps a company has taken to assess and eliminate, not just manage, the risk or use of forced or child labour, and a summary of reports of forced or child labour, including consultations with communities affected by child labour.

The language in this amendment was suggested by World Vision Canada, which, as you know, is a child-focused organization that worked on this bill over several years. Despite its support for the bill, World Vision still has ideas on how we can strengthen this important legislation, and they are reflected in this amendment.

Given that the bill does not meet the standards of due diligence that our witnesses called for, we should adopt this amendment.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Canada Labour Code

[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)