Evidence of meeting #149 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 families.
A video is available from Parliament.
11:55 a.m.
A voice
February 8.
11:55 a.m.
Conservative
Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB
So it's been since February 8 that the report was tabled. Of course, the government's been aware of these proposals for a long time. Thousands of people across this country have written in, signed petitions and called their MPs. It's not like this was a big surprise, even on February 8, that these were the kinds of recommendations people were asking for. There's been no indication of any action. There's been no indication of even any kind of an update given by this government on what they are doing in this regard.
I think the families deserve that. They deserve that. We're coming very close to the end of a parliamentary session before an election. They deserve that opportunity. I think we saw today how much the government will do to try to avoid giving families what they deserve and giving families even the courtesy of some information or a simple update. That's pretty pathetic, frankly. It's pretty pathetic. I think the least the government could do is have the minister come here and give some kind of an update to these families. Just show them a little bit of courtesy and a little bit of respect. Give them some kind of an update on what's being done to make sure that these needs and these asks are being taken care of.
These are simple asks, right? They're simply asking for some dedicated resources from employment and social development. That's one of the recommendations. They're asking for employees to show some better compassion when dealing with bereaved individuals. I won't even get into some of the stories. We've all heard them. They were here in testimony at the committee. Members heard them. They're asking for some protection of their jobs under labour standards legislation to allow a leave of absence to deal with grief.
Noon
Liberal
Wayne Long Liberal Saint John—Rothesay, NB
On a point of order, I just question the relevancy here. Are we not debating a motion to invite the Auditor General here?
Noon
Conservative
Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB
Thank you.
These are simple things, and I don't need to go through them all. They're simply asking for compassion, and the final one, of course, the most important one, is that there has been a desire to see some kind of a bereavement leave created for these parents. It was something that was agreed to by all parties on this committee. It was simply that Employment and Social Development Canada should change the eligibility requirements for employment insurance as they relate to maternity and parental benefits. Bereavement leave is accommodated in the program and provides income support for 12 to 15 weeks for parents grieving the loss of an infant child.
These are asks, and I just can't imagine how anyone could hear the stories that everyone has heard on this committee and not want to try to help.
When we see these kinds of tricks to try to adjourn debate without even having a debate on the motion, these kinds of tricks that we've seen all along to try to stall this, to delay this, to not provide these opportunities.... If this government wants to try to fool these families into believing that they're going to do something if they get re-elected, the least they could do is come here and face the committee and therefore the parents and the families who are affected and just answer why that's the case, why they couldn't find the will to do this, because we all know it's the right thing to do.
I really hope the government members won't try another trick to try to delay and stall this. Let's have a vote on this motion, and we'll see where everyone stands, who stands with these families, who stands behind them, and who wants to show the the proper support and compassion they deserve.
If the members of the government side choose to try to adjourn the debate, we know where they stand.
Noon
Liberal
Dan Ruimy Liberal Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC
With respect to my colleague trying to force a vote, my problem here is that the government has 120 days to respond. We have not heard that 120 days' response that is due by June 7, so trying to push us to vote for something when we haven't heard a response from the government is playing games, in my opinion.
Noon
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bryan May
Sorry, but that's not a point of order.
Mr. Richards, you have the floor.
Noon
Conservative
Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB
I think that possibly shows a misunderstanding on the member's part. The bottom line is that the motion is asking that the minister come to the committee to provide some kind of an update on what's being done with the recommendations, which gives the member exactly what he's asking for, so I certainly hope he'll choose to support the motion.
I really do believe that any member who refuses to support this motion, who tries to adjourn the debate or votes to adjourn the debate is not showing the respect and compassion these families deserve. I really hope there's nobody on this committee who will do that, because it's the wrong thing, and they all know it.
Noon
Liberal
Noon
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bryan May
I'll repeat the question. The question is on adjourning the debate.
(Motion agreed to: yeas 5; nays 4 [See Minutes of Proceedings])
Mr. Richards.
Noon
Conservative
Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB
Point of order, Mr. Chair.
I just want to point out to all the families who are listening and hearing this that what we just saw was—
Noon
Conservative
Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB
—a pathetic example of a government not showing you the support and compassion you deserve.
12:05 p.m.
Conservative
Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB
I apologize on behalf of all members of the House of Commons—
12:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bryan May
—so if you don't have a point of order, we're going to get to questions.
12:05 p.m.
Conservative