Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I would like to come back to the CPP Disability Benefits Program. There are, in fact, some people who are not among the 291,000 beneficiaries or the two million people who have been identified. I realize that all may not work or have worked.
It says in your document that a large percentage of people with a medical condition suffer from musculoskeletal conditions. These may be people who perform strenuous work. In terms of the medical file, to determine whether someone is eligible for benefits, it says here that socio-economic factors, such as labour market conditions, are not considered.
Based on that, let's take the example of someone who performs physical work for many years and develops a musculoskeletal condition. If that person is told he can perform another kind of work, that means he will not receive disability benefits under the Canada Pension Plan. However, supposing that other type of work is not available where the individual lives, although it may be available elsewhere in this vast beautiful land of ours. It's not because the person doesn't want to take that work; the problem is that work is not available in his area.
What do you do in such cases? Will that person be told he can't be helped and should apply for social assistance benefits, or will he be offered another type of assistance that will help him meet certain family needs?