Evidence of meeting #41 for Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was mental.
2:45 p.m.
Conservative
Ben Lobb Conservative Huron—Bruce, ON
To conclude, then, you would not want to stick a timeframe on it. It would be open-ended.
2:45 p.m.
Co-Chair, FOR Women's Autonomy, Rights and Dignity (FORWARD)
For right now, it should be special measures. There should be special measures.
This has been going on for 13 years. I can't work 40 hours any more. I'm lucky if I can work 20.
Right now I should be in Chapingo, Mexico, doing research on rural women, making $35,000 a year, helping my children get their university education. But this is how debilitated I've become. This is all I can do.
EI is a mess, and especially with part-time work. Remember, a number of people are working two, three, apparently four part-time jobs. They're paying EI and they don't get anything from it.
I don't get anything from EI. Two hundred people just lost their jobs in my office.
2:45 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
Thank you, Mr. Lobb.
I believe that Mr. Ouellet has one last quick question before we wrap up.
2:45 p.m.
Bloc
Christian Ouellet Bloc Brome—Missisquoi, QC
It's more like a statement.
You rightly stated—and you were not alone in doing so—that a person who has been unemployed for two years will sooner or later experience some mental health problems. Mr. Shapcott whom we heard from this morning told me three years ago that only 4% of people who end up living on the street initially suffered from mental health problems. Unfortunately, when a person is forced into living on the street, these types of problems tend to surface, and I would point out, to surface fairly quickly. The problem could be avoided if housing was available for these individuals.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
2:45 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
Thank you, Monsieur Ouellet.
I want to thank the witnesses again for taking the time to be here, and certainly, Patricia and Diana, for sharing with us your stories, which were very moving. Thank you very much.
We're going to adjourn now and we'll be starting back up very shortly.
The meeting is adjourned.