Evidence of meeting #125 for Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was bereavement.
A video is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Bobby Morrissey Liberal Egmont, PE
Thank you, Chair.
I have a quick question for you, Ms. Cadell. You referenced public education. We hear that a lot. My question would be simply this: Where and when? Where do you see the public education piece beginning? Is it in academics? Is it at schools? Who does it involve—the young, the old? Who?
Please make your answer brief, because I have a few other questions.
Professor, School of Social Work, Renison University College, University of Waterloo, As an Individual
Absolutely.
What pops into my head is bus shelters and buses. We need to be talking about this at all ages. I think buses and public transportation and of course social media—those two follow one another—are places where we can start a conversation. When people are talking about death and dying, we benefit from that as a society.
Liberal
Bobby Morrissey Liberal Egmont, PE
Okay.
I've been listening to the testimony, and to follow up on my colleague MP Hogg's comments, it's been pretty consistent. It's compelling. It reaches out to most people. I've lost several siblings through a similar death. Everybody wants to do something. It's good that the motion was brought forward and that a discussion is taking place.
When I look back at the notes I've developed, I can see about three themes that have come out in this so far: financial distress at a really vulnerable time, insensitive structures to navigate for people who are impacted, and each bereaved person's case being unique and different. Having those three in place, what would you tell this committee to recommend to government to address these aspects?
Ms. Lihou, I was very impressed with your presentation. You put some real structure and facts into how to respond.
Perhaps you could quickly respond to this, because that's what we have to come down to. There's a desire, certainly from this side of the committee, to put forward recommendations that address these issues.
Professor, School of Social Work, Renison University College, University of Waterloo, As an Individual
As a social worker, I would want to see a micro, meso and macro approach.
At a macro level, I would like to see our country sign on to the compassionate cities charter and give cities resources to enact that, because it really helps to start the conversation, and instead of Heritage Minutes, we could have “Bereavement Minutes”, which would be about destroying the myths. There are so many myths around death and dying.
At the micro level, I would want to see professionals and individuals being resourced, with not just the bereaved but the folks who are working in the services equipped with skills.
At the meso level—I'll be very quick, because you're probably getting called—I would want organizations to provide training and support. If the Government of Canada starts providing really excellent bereavement leave to its employees, maybe the rest of the country will follow.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bryan May
I'm afraid I have to interrupt you there.
We have some committee business to get to. I apologize for cutting this short, but I want to thank you for being here and for coming in via video conference to share your knowledge with us on this study.
We will suspend, go in camera very quickly, and come back to discuss a motion.
Again, thank you all very much.
[Proceedings continue in camera]