I want to point out that I fully share the idea that this bill would move us one step forward into the future. That’s how we’ve been able to move our social programs forward.
Under the current provisions, caregivers have to return to work when the person they have been caring for dies, which is ridiculous. The bill would change that. Caregivers would no longer have to fear losing their job or having problems at work because of the circumstances.
My view is that we should go even farther than this bill proposes. Amendments to employment insurance are in fact possible. We are also currently conducting a study to review the whole EI system. It provides regular benefits for workers, but also special benefits such as sickness benefits, which we would like to see increased to 50 weeks. We are also looking into making the eligibility conditions for compassionate care benefits more flexible. It is therefore possible to do more.
Nevertheless, my understanding is that the current strategy is to focus on what changes we can make quickly. We want a major change to be set in motion right now.
Is that your view as well?