Thanks, Mr. Chairman.
Thanks to the witnesses who are in attendance here today.
I'm going to follow up on some of the questions that were just asked.
When I look back at the history of benefits that have been provided to parents, I see that, way back in the year 1971 when I was born, my mother would have received 15 weeks of maternity benefits in that year. As we look through the 1990s and into the the 2000s, we witness the introduction of parental benefits provided to both parents and the extension of the weeks that were provided, and here we are today.
It's been a long journey, if you look back at the history, in terms of the benefits that have been provided. If I refer to Madame Chabot's reference to unions, all of these gains have been made by people pushing government—unions, specifically, through collective bargaining processes—and fighting for additional benefits. It's been a real collective effort, and both Ms. Eisner and Professor McLeod are a big part of that today, as has been recognized by other committee members. It's been quite a journey and a long journey.
Some of the questions I would have along those lines are in terms of what the gap is right now between where Canada is.... Professor McLeod talked about Canada being an outlier. What's the gap right now in terms of the gold standard of benefits that have been provided—I think you just referenced a couple in your last answer—and where we're at now? It almost seems like a given, as was referenced, that we're going to pass this and that it's just a matter of in what shape or form.
How do we change the narrative and the legislation to ensure that we're not an outlier on a go-forward basis?