We are looking at the last 15 weeks before the expected delivery date because that is what the bill talks about.
The reason we think it has almost no benefit is that, according to the figures in Quebec, only 5% to 6% of pregnant women receive preventive withdrawal benefits after their 23rd week, so before their last 15 weeks. Professor Cherry talked about that earlier. In Quebec, three-quarters of preventive withdrawals occur during the first trimester, in other words, during the first 13 weeks. The bill before you allows maternity benefits to be paid beginning 15 weeks before the expected date of delivery. In its budget, the government said that it was going to extend the maternity benefit period and allow women to claim maternity benefits up to 12 weeks before their delivery date.