Thank you, Madam Chair.
First of all, I would like to remind members of the terms of reference we set for this study.
At the suggestion of the Conservatives, the terms of reference were framed as follows: “[...] examine current federal support measures that are available to adoptive parents [...]”. I repeat: “[...] federal support measures that are available to adoptive parents [...]”
So, our work this morning, I believe, was primarily to identify areas of jurisdiction and determine what support measures currently exist. I think our guests have provided valuable answers in that regard. The primary support measure with respect to adoption is a 35-week parental leave under the employment insurance system. According to your testimony, on average, 28 weeks are used.
I think that gives us a good overview of support measures. The other area is provincial jurisdiction.
In light of recent debates, where we attempted to flesh out the terms of reference the Conservatives had suggested for this study, we expected them to be asking questions this morning about aspects of the support measures we may not have been aware of.
I also wanted to let the committee know that the questions asked by Conservative members had to do with mechanics and the operation of the immigration system, as it relates to children, as well as its operation in other countries.
We are certainly a long way from talking about federal support measures as they currently exists or any that need to be added, if they need to be added.
That is what I wanted to raise, Madam Chair, because otherwise we are going to end up talking about every aspect of the mechanics of immigration. I could give you the example of the question asked earlier by Mr. Casson, in particular, with respect to the immigration process, and so on.
I don't know whether we can continue to work this way, because we will be stepping away from the initial terms of reference that we set for this study. That is what I wanted to raise. I don't have any other questions, because I believe we have covered the topic, unless the Conservatives can tell us that other measures were not discussed and those are the ones they would like to introduce. If they tell us that, we will go back to the terms of reference. I don't know whether I'm making myself clear. In that case, we'll go back to the initial terms of reference.