Evidence of meeting #54 for Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was amendment.
A recording is available from Parliament.
November 1st, 2012 / 9:25 a.m.
Conservative
Liberal
Conservative
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Ed Komarnicki
Hold on a second. The officials here, who are able to provide technical advice, are probably listening to both parties and maybe have the answer.
I don't know if you wish to clarify any part of that. If you do, Mr. Roussy, go ahead.
Jean-François Roussy Director, Self Employed and Other Initiatives, Employment Insurance Policy, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
If you qualify for the benefit for parents of critically ill children, then you don't have to requalify. You can have an extension of your benefits, period, so you could stack the compassionate care benefit or sickness benefit as long as you meet the criteria for those benefits—
Director, Self Employed and Other Initiatives, Employment Insurance Policy, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
—but you don't have to requalify with another 600 hours after receiving the benefit for the care of critically ill children. You can stack the others.
Conservative
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Ed Komarnicki
You're not quite sure. Just a second, and we'll try to get someone. I know Monsieur Lapointe is prepared to—
Go ahead, Ms. Leitch.
Conservative
Kellie Leitch Conservative Simcoe—Grey, ON
I think what Mr. Roussy was trying to outline is that for special benefits, there is a qualifying number of hours. It is 600 hours, but it is for all benefits, and you don't have to requalify for each. For any special benefit, the qualifying number of hours is 600. Once you qualify with that 600 hours, you would be eligible for not just this benefit but also the other two, without an additional 600 hours. Basically if you are qualified for this 37 weeks, you are absolutely eligible, without any additional hours, for the additional 15 weeks plus six weeks.
Am I correct in understanding that, sir?
Director, Self Employed and Other Initiatives, Employment Insurance Policy, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
Absolutely. The number of hours is 600 for that benefit period.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Ed Komarnicki
I'm going to ask that before we go to Mr. Sullivan, we go to Monsieur Lapointe.
Mr. Cuzner, if you wish, we'll come back to you.
Go ahead, Monsieur Lapointe.
NDP
François Lapointe NDP Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
Yes.
I'm sorry. I think it's a point of order.
Because of the language problem we had a while ago, I would like us to deal with this situation in order to avoid having to face the same problem later on.
In French, one says "en appeler de la décision" and I understand that the English translation is "the decision is appealed". I am not a lawyer but I believe that is the proper translation of "challenging the Chair".
If I said the French equivalent of "I challenge the Chair", that would mean that I want to replace you as the Chair, which is absolutely not my intention. Do you understand? When I say "j'en appelle de la décision", it should be translated quickly and properly for the Chair to understand what I mean. I do not know how this problem can be resolved.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Ed Komarnicki
Essentially, you're appealing the decision of the chair, which is the same as challenging the chair, as we would say in English. We'll use that—
NDP
François Lapointe NDP Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
But you understand that I cannot translate "I challenge the Chair" word for word. In French, that would mean that I am about to challenge you to a duel, which is really not my intention.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Ed Komarnicki
No. I'll refer to that as appealing the decision of the chair, and that should suffice.
NDP
Conservative
NDP
Mike Sullivan NDP York South—Weston, ON
I want to ask the specialist experts at the other end if the compassionate care leave can be taken after the death of the child.
Director, Self Employed and Other Initiatives, Employment Insurance Policy, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
No. It has to be before.
NDP
Mike Sullivan NDP York South—Weston, ON
That's what I thought.
Also, the sickness benefit requires proof of illness. It's not automatic.
Director, Self Employed and Other Initiatives, Employment Insurance Policy, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
You need a medical certificate, just as for the compassionate care benefit. You need a medical certificate for that too.
NDP
Mike Sullivan NDP York South—Weston, ON
The medical certificate and the compassionate care benefit are about the individual who is ill—the child, for example—and in the case of the sickness benefit, the medical certificate is about the parent.
