I understand that, but you are still part of the department. The mission of the employment insurance fund is clear. It is intended for people who have lost their jobs, and it provides training. In my opinion, the more we dip into the fund, the more we make it stray from its primary mission.
Although you work in employment insurance, I would like to know whether you have the impression that your department agrees that healthcare needs are becoming greater and greater. That's not the topic of our study, but the fact remains that one in two Canadians is at risk of developing cancer. Even in the event of illness, it will not always be possible to dip into the employment insurance fund.
Several witnesses talked to us about the number of weeks. At the last session, a psychologist even said that no less than 15 to 20 weeks were needed. She talked about a flexible bereavement leave benefit program, since the shock associated with bereavement does not always show up immediately; it sometimes shows up a few weeks later.
Have you come up with any recommendations on the specific number of weeks required? Basically, bereavement falls under a specific type of sick leave.