Human Resources Committee on Nov. 16th, 2010

When it comes to obtaining services or assistance in this country, there are always issues around the division of powers. I am not trying to make a comparison, but when a tragedy like this happens in the U.S., as soon as the police get to the crime scene, resources have already been made available to help victims and their families.

As far as I know, that kind of service is not provided in Canada, and even less so in Quebec. Including a measure like that in the bill would give it added value. It would make resources available to victims promptly or immediately following the tragedy. Their needs would be addressed, and they would receive support early on.

Bloc

Yves Lessard Bloc Chambly—Borduas, QC

Thank you very much, Mr. Bolduc.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Candice Bergen

Thank you very much.

We'll now go to Mr. Martin, please.

NDP

Tony Martin NDP Sault Ste. Marie, ON

Thank you very much.

I'll recognize off the bat that I haven't been here for the beginning of this bill, but I do have a couple of questions flowing out of it, from what I've been able to read and gather.

This bill seems to be zeroed in on a very specific criminal activity that affects the family and time off. Was there any thought, or any thought in your mind, to maybe expanding this to cover other family events that create stress or difficulty? For example, under the EI bill there is provision for people to be off for compassionate care and sickness, but it's for a much shorter period of time. What is your advice to us on making sure that we're dealing equitably with all families as we try to organize our workplace in a way that allows people to not only work, but take care of themselves?

As an Individual

As you know, the very definition of the term “employment insurance” is quite broad. When a person loses their job, they are entitled to receive employment insurance benefits to which they have contributed. In fact, situations other than those covered in Ms. Bonsant's bill could be considered. I do not necessarily have the skills to do that, but it is important to bear in mind one thing, and I mentioned it at the very beginning of my presentation: Canadians need to continue contributing to society.

I believe that the bill talks about that, but if not, it should be added, because people who contribute to society help a country develop and grow. With any type of tragedy, if you do not support the victims and give them the assistance they need, they stop being active members of society.

I was 45 years old at the time. If I had not been able to get past everything, I would not have been an active member of society, and I would have cost society a lot of money.

That is important. Do not lose sight of the fact that the whole point of this bill is to ensure that victims receive the support they need and once again become active members of society.

NDP

Tony Martin NDP Sault Ste. Marie, ON

I think you make an excellent case, Mr. Bolduc, certainly if you look at some of the information being gathered and some of the studies being done on the issue of poverty in our country, for example, and the fact that it costs us as a society--or it costs the economy--about $90 billion a year. Food Banks Canada, which is coming out with a report this morning, made a report last year indicating that if we were courageous enough to look at a way in which we might spend that money more effectively, perhaps we would do exactly as you're saying. We would help people during those difficult times, so that they don't fall off the wagon altogether and end up not being able to come back to work or to get a job because of the cumulative effect of tragedies in one's life, for example, and end up being a drain as opposed to being a contributing member.

I guess that's what you're asking for here: that we give people this support in that difficult time so they can deal with their personal issues and then get back to work and become contributing members and participate in the economy. It seems to me that it would be a far more effective way of spending that up to $90 billion. Perhaps we would be spending less if we did more of what you're suggesting.

As an Individual

You are absolutely right. If we invest in helping people become active members of society, we will end up saving money. Clearly, the government should not keep making the same kinds of decisions it is making now, in other words, spending billions of dollars on warplanes and helicopters. Those are not measures that help Canadians remain active members of society. We do not need that in Canada. Invest in Canadians, instead of votes. That is crucial.

I commend people like Ms. Bonsant, who are more concerned about the welfare of people than votes. Remember that lesson. This is a perfect example of a member of Parliament who cares about society.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Candice Bergen

Thank you very much.

We will now go to Mr. Vellacott.

Conservative

Maurice Vellacott Conservative Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you for being with us by teleconference, Mr. Bolduc. We much appreciate that. I can't imagine.... I try to put myself in your seat, with the emotions and the experience of having lost a loved one, as you did, and it's difficult to do even that. Our hearts certainly go out to you with respect to this.

I would just pick up on one thing that you did say. I think you inferred it just a few moments ago again as well, but I would frame it this way, Mr. Bolduc. Would you not agree that if our authorities—and in this case, the Conservative government is more aggressive, I guess you might say, in terms of cracking down on crime--are doing that, there should be fewer victims at the end of the day?

I would say that cracking down on crime is preventive. It's pre-emptive. It's proactive. Bringing in measures to assist victims is necessary. It's vital. It's a very important thing to do. It's after the fact, reactive, you might say, and good, but I would say that being proactive is another very important priority or first step. I don't think it's an either-or. I think it's both. In my sense, it would be proactive, preventive, or pre-emptive, if you will, to do the getting tough on crime.

You might want to react to that quickly or respond to that. I don't see it as an either-or and I think it's pretty important to crack down on crime too.

As an Individual

Yes, I agree that investing in crime prevention is very important. Nevertheless, it is important to remember everything that happens after a crime has been committed; there are people in jail.

If you were to visit prisons today and took the time to correctly assess the situation, you would see that there is not enough focus on reintegration into society. I believe in reintegration; I believe there is a way to help some individuals—perhaps not all—become contributing members of society once again. But to do that, you need to adopt the right measures and focus the right efforts on the right things, and that is not the case right now.

It is all well and good to invest in policing, but if you think increasing repression is the way to cut crime, you are missing the point: it is merely a drop in the bucket. You need to invest wisely. And I think the government has the resources to clearly identify the right approaches and the right tools to cut crime.

Conservative

Maurice Vellacott Conservative Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK

Okay, thank you very much. I don't think we have much in the way of disagreement there. I appreciate your good words there. Certainly I think governments at different levels, federal, provincial, and municipal governments, need to and certainly do what they can and should be investing in the lives, broken lives if you will, of those who have been perpetrators of crime as well. So I think we have agreement there.

I would like to ask a question along a different line. This question I think is germane to the bill. The person who took your daughter's life—I don't know the circumstances there, but I assume it was somebody taking your daughter's life—in your view, is that person a “victim”? Do you consider that person and their family victims of crime? The person who perpetrated the crime against your daughter, is that person a victim and that person's family also victims of crime?

As an Individual

Three people contributed to my daughter's death. Three repeat offenders. I had contact with one of those individual's family members, who does not want the person to ever get out of jail. You can see these situations certainly create some challenges within criminals' families. I am not familiar with those issues, and I have never studied that aspect, but I do know these families go through difficult times. They are not the ones who chose to commit the crime.

So in that respect, it is very hard to establish a yardstick in terms of the difficulties these people experience. It may be worthwhile to speak with them and hear what they have to say about it.

Conservative

Maurice Vellacott Conservative Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK

Okay, right. I think we probably both mean a victim in a different sense, possibly in a larger scale of things.

To the point of the bill here, would you say that the other family, the parents, others of the particular three individuals who perpetrated that crime, that murder of your dear daughter, should be able to take time off and receive EI benefits? Because in the wording of the bill—and we checked it out, we actually did get the right wording in the bill, which did make the point that if their presence is required by the employee’s minor child, under 18 years of age, “who has suffered a serious physical injury during the commission or as the direct result of a criminal offence that renders the child unable to carry on regular activities”.... In effect it is saying that those parents, if you will, of the individuals who perpetrated the crime against your daughter would be able to take time off and receive benefits.

Now, I cite a case.This is not just theoretical stuff—

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Candice Bergen

Mr. Vellacott, if you could just do it quickly, your time is actually up.

Conservative

Maurice Vellacott Conservative Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK

Yes, you bet.

In the paper today, in the Ottawa Metro news, where it speaks of an alleged robber who accidentally stabs himself, it makes the point that he robbed a commercial establishment and in his flight, or whatever, he stabbed himself—a serious injury, and he's in critical condition. Would the parents of that individual be receiving benefits under this particular bill? The present wording seems to suggest that if that individual is a minor—I don't know in the circumstance today whether that person was or not—it appears those parents would receive EI benefits. Would you agree with that?

As an Individual

I think your question is a bit far-fetched. If the person did in fact injure themselves, they must suffer the consequences; that is the choice they made. As for the person's family, it is not for me to say.

Personally, I have my doubts that they would be eligible. The fact remains, however, that they are members of society who are experiencing circumstances beyond their control. The person who committed the crime, the one who injured themselves, is the one who made the choice. Of course, there may be collateral consequences. Fortunately, in those cases, social programs may be able to meet the needs of certain individuals, who are likely contributing members of society, as well. So they, too, need to keep on contributing.

But I am unsure as to whether these people could necessarily qualify for benefits under the bill.