Thank you, we will be sharing the presentation, which will be brief.
First of all, we would like to express our thanks on behalf of our two organizations, the Conseil national des chômeurs et chômeuses and the Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec.
Madam Chair, members of the Standing Committee on Human Resources, thank you for inviting us to appear to discuss Bill C-395.
We would like to say, at the outset, that we are in favour of this bill—at least as regards its intention—which is to make a labour dispute grounds for extending the qualifying period. I also want to take this opportunity to mention that the text of the proposed bill contains certain errors. Indeed, before establishing the reasons for the extension, it is necessary to understand the definition of “qualifying period”. That definition can be found in subsection 8(1) of the Act. The qualifying period cannot exceed the 52 weeks immediately before the beginning of the benefit period. However, the bill does not amend that definition of qualifying period.
Now let us look at the extension of the qualifying period. The Act provides for the extension of the qualifying period by an equivalent number of weeks, during the qualifying period, where the worker's situation corresponds to one of those described in subsection 8(2). The purpose of Bill C-395 is to add “work stoppage attributable to a labour dispute” as grounds for extending the qualifying period. We are very much in favour of that first proposal in the bill. In our opinion, it is part and parcel of the modernization of the Employment Insurance program. Indeed, we do not understand why it has not yet been included under the reasons for granting an exception.
Pierre.