Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, MP Gerretsen, for coming here to deliver this presentation. I hope that the study you have done on your bill will be helpful to us in the committee.
One initial reason why cabinet opposed your bill was that, while the bill was being debated in the House from October 6 to November 4, the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development was engaging Canadians and key stakeholders through online consultations on more flexible maternity, paternity, and caregiving benefits and leave provisions. Those consultations were aimed at getting the view of Canadians on how pregnant workers could be better supported, notably in situations such as those described in your Bill C-243. This study concluded that 64% of the participants would favour taking EI maternity benefits and leaving earlier than currently allowed.
Have have you looked at the conclusions of these consultations by the minister? Do they support what the bill is proposing?