Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, and thank you very much, Ministers, for attending today, as well the officials. We really appreciate your time.
My first question will be for Minister Raitt, just so there are no surprises.
This piece of legislation, Bill C-44, is obviously something quite important to my other health care professional colleagues. One thing we would continually hear is the challenges that parents would have trying to balance what things they needed to prioritize. So not only was it a responsibility of myself or my colleagues as trauma physicians, but also our social workers, to see how we could create that right balance.
To the point you made before, Minister, as a parent as well as someone looking at this legislation, the focus absolutely becomes the child. No parent wants to be placed in a circumstance where they're having to choose, and the intent behind this legislation is that a parent does not have to make that choice. The choice is very clear and very easy for them: they can spend the time with their child. They can not just balance work and responsibilities for family, but family comes first.
My question stems from one from a parent who came into my office, very similar to Mr. Butt, right at the beginning when I was elected last year. Their child had an osteosarcoma, a rare bone cancer. We're in a rural riding. They actually had to travel a long way to get to Sick Kids to get their care. The travel back and forth was challenging enough for the parent, let alone wanting to be with their child.
One of the items that has been raised in this legislation is obviously the Canada Labour Code and the protection of jobs and taking leaves of absence. I wanted to ask you: what consultations were done in your constituency with respect to the recommended changes that have been put forward for this legislation? Also, your thoughts with respect to the legislation: what items would you like to see emphasized going forward with respect to this piece of legislation?