Evidence of meeting #189 for Finance in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A video is available from Parliament.
4 p.m.
Senior Policy Strategist, Strategic Policy and Legislative Reform, Labour Program, Department of Employment and Social Development
Can you repeat your question? The maternity leave ends when...?
4 p.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC
How many weeks are there until the maternity leave ends, after either the birth or the death of the child?
4 p.m.
Senior Policy Strategist, Strategic Policy and Legislative Reform, Labour Program, Department of Employment and Social Development
Once a woman gives birth to the child, for instance, she can have up to 17 weeks. Whether or not the child passes away after one or two weeks, she would be entitled to the full 17 weeks.
4 p.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC
Okay.
Therefore, for any child who passed away after 18 or 19 weeks, the only paid bereavement leave that would apply is the three days.
4 p.m.
Senior Policy Strategist, Strategic Policy and Legislative Reform, Labour Program, Department of Employment and Social Development
Yes. Unless she qualified for sick leave, then she would be entitled to the sick leave as well.
4 p.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC
Yes. Thank you.
I think what we're seeing is that there really isn't bereavement leave for the death of a child that is available. There is a patchwork of some things that may apply sometimes, but it certainly doesn't apply, if the child is four and a half months or older. It doesn't apply at all. It doesn't apply at all, in the case of a father or a non-birth mother, and even the bereavement leave that applies is limited to three days paid leave.
It seems very clear to me that this is an amendment that the government should be approving.
4 p.m.
Conservative
Tom Kmiec Conservative Calgary Shepard, AB
I'd just like to return to the 17 weeks. That doesn't apply to fathers because, again, I happen to be a father who experienced this. Was there a gender-based analysis ever done on this?
This seems patently unfair to a dad who has lost their child in that 17-week period. The mom would get it, but the dad would not and there are no changes being done inside the BIA to that particular section. It's a bit off the direct wording of the motion because the amendment being proposed gives it to parents, so both mom and dad would get 12 weeks.
In the current system, the dad doesn't get anything, except for three paid days and two unpaid. That just seems really unfair and I am saying that as a dad who went through it.
4 p.m.
Liberal
Greg Fergus Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
Mr. Chair, could we take a five-minute break to discuss this amendment?
4 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
Are members okay with suspending for five minutes, so they can rethink this?
4 p.m.
Some hon. members
Agreed.
4:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
We'll reconvene.
Where are we at? Did I hear somebody suggest that they want to stand this clause until the end? Do we have agreement to do that while other discussions take place?
Is this proposal being studied at HUMA? Can anybody tell me that?
4:10 p.m.
Banff—Airdrie, CPC
Yes, there is currently a study at HUMA, which is near completion. It's based on the motion that I brought forward in the House of Commons, which was passed unanimously in the House. We've heard from the parents. I think there's one meeting left where we'll hear from officials, and it has been very clear where the recommendations would be headed if we were to follow witness testimony. It has been very clear that this is exactly what they've all called for, the 12-week bereavement leave.
I would hope that maybe we can get it done, because the problem, of course, with the committee is that by the time it would do recommendations in the new year, there wouldn't be time for action. This is an opportunity for the government to actually act on that, rather than just talk about it, so we're certainly hopeful that we'll see that through this process.
4:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
Okay, but if it was recommended at HUMA, it could be put in a future budget implementation act. Is that correct?
4:10 p.m.
Banff—Airdrie, CPC
Yes, that's right. For the government to be able to act, this would be the best opportunity, rather than to wait until after an election.
4:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
Thank you.
Are we agreed, then, to stand this clause 470 and the proposed CPC-9 amendment to just before routine motions right after clause 747?
4:10 p.m.
Conservative
4:10 p.m.
Liberal
4:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
Okay, so it will be whichever comes earlier.
(Clause 470 allowed to stand)
There are no amendments on clauses 471 to 477. Are there any discussions for officials on any of those points?
Seeing none, I will call the vote.
(Clauses 471 to 477 inclusive agreed to on division)
4:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
There is a new clause, clause 477.1, proposed by amendment CPC-10. Who is bringing that forward?
Mr. Richards.
