Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
I would like to thank my colleague Mr. Richards for getting us to reflect on this issue.
I would also like to thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Cormier. I understand all the courage it took for you to come and live these moments before us and share your story with us. Thank you for doing so on behalf of all the parents who have experienced the same situation as you.
As MPs, we have heard stories from fellow citizens in our respective ridings, and I find it interesting to see how our questions go in much the same direction.
In the first hour, Service Canada officials told us that we could consider excluding special benefits from the employment insurance program, and I found that interesting. I think the employment insurance program is not the right vehicle for special benefits, as your testimony has shown. A person experiencing bereavement or illness cannot be asked to navigate the same path as a person who has just lost their job.
The senior official told us that it would be possible to have government programs that are not funded from the employment insurance fund, which, in any case, is already insufficient to meet the benefit demands of those who lose their jobs.
You made it clear: women, especially those living in provinces where there is no preventive withdrawal system as there is in Quebec, find themselves in situations where they no longer have access to benefits. To access other benefits, they would have to return to work to accumulate enough hours.
As you said, it is difficult to access or navigate Service Canada programs. In Quebec, organizations such as the Mouvement action-chômage help people navigate the employment insurance program. These organizations receive many requests, but they are underfunded. The Government of Quebec gives little recognition to their contribution because they are linked to a federal law.
These advocacy organizations are therefore the least funded of all community organizations. Senior officials told us that it is not just a matter of benefits. There is also all the support that can be given to those who make requests.
While we were preparing our study, we found that there were benefits for victims of crime. It is a full-fledged program that allows the recipient to return to work part time while continuing to receive benefits, under terms and conditions specific to the program. This is really a smart way to avoid having to use the employment insurance fund. It is a dedicated program that takes into account the particularities of what people in this situation experience.
In your opinion, should we consider implementing a program similar to the one that exists for victims of crime and that is not part of the employment insurance program?