With all due respect, Minister, I wish you would give the same consideration to people whose EI sickness benefits have already run out and who are in the very position that you're saying we need to, and I agree with you, avoid—having people whose regular benefits are going to run out at the end of the month and who will find themselves in a position where they don't have financial support.
We already know of people whose EI sickness benefit has run out because it's for only 15 weeks. They're in that position already and you don't seem to feel that it's a priority to respond to that very real need. I can't for the life of me figure out the difference between somebody who's on EI regular benefits and can't get back to work and needs financial support and somebody who's really sick, whose benefits have run out and who can't support themselves financially.
It seems to me that this change meets all of your criteria and that we are good to go. I'm going to be presenting an amendment to that effect later. I'm hoping, with the co-operation of members who have already voted for this extension in the House, that we'll be able to get it into the legislation and that you'll provide the royal recommendation it needs to proceed.