Thank you. I'll be able to use the extra minutes very effectively.
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I would like to thank you for being here today and for responding to our invitation on such short notice. We are very pleased that you are here.
I have questions for Mr. Céré of the Conseil national des chômeurs et chômeuses, the CNC.
My first question concerns the use of EI benefits as sickness benefits. The Parliamentary Budget Officer did a study on this last April. It revealed that 77% of EI recipients who were ill had exhausted their 15 weeks of benefits, were not ready to return to work and had taken at least 26 weeks of sick leave to get back on their feet.
I believe the CNC is asking that length of sickness benefits be increased to 50 weeks. From what I'm hearing, the minister is concerned that the premium rate for companies would be very high.
What arguments would you make to convince him to adopt this measure?