There was no reason other than to determine what the underlying reason for the amendment was. The employment insurance program works in a specific way. Currently, the eligibility window for parental benefits cannot be extended unless the person's children are sick and in the hospital. The current EI program does not set out any other exceptions.
All the reasons for which the eligibility window for parental benefits can be extended have to be related to the fact that they are beyond the individual's control. The current act in no way allows windows to be extended for reasons arising from the individual's decision. Making an amendment of that sort would significantly change the nature of extension measures.