First of all, just parenthetically, I think members know that I have a motion on notice that asks the committee to report to the House that it opposes discrimination against students in the distribution of student grants based on the type of regulated institution where students are studying. I would like to move that motion today, but I'm not going to move it now. I think we should use Mr. Beech's time while he's here.

However, I'll ask your indulgence, Mr. Chair, that you come back to me after he's done so that I have the opportunity to move the motion. I think you know I could move it now, but I would rather not. I would rather just do it at the end.

Mr. Beech, it's important to underline again that we won't expand the bill unless we have the support of the government to do it. We hope the government will support the expansion we're proposing. We see no reason that it wouldn't want to support an expansion that also includes families dealing with the loss of a parent. Obviously, the government holds the final decision because it controls whether there's a royal recommendation. We don't want a situation in which the bill gets amended and then gets stopped because the government blocks it at that point.

The point of raising this amendment is not to say that it's the expansion or nothing. It's to say that we want to use this moment to advocate for an expansion that will cover as many families as possible.

You made the point that different families grieve differently and that different individuals grieve differently. I think that's a really important point, because in the past there has sometimes been a pressure on individuals to say that there's one way of grieving or one form that grieving takes. This is an important insight around leave and around different things that people are involved in—recognizing that it's a very individual process. I thank you for highlighting that. That's an important thing to flag in this context.

For the balance of my time, I'm going to hand it over to Mr. Bailey, who is, I think, the fifth generation in his family to be a funeral director, so he knows a lot about this subject.

I'll hand it over to you.

4:25 p.m.

Conservative

Burton Bailey Conservative Red Deer, AB

Thank you.

There are a few things I'd like to make note of.

Most young couples have never made funeral arrangements. No two deaths are the same. There may be similarities. It's an extremely difficult arrangement. I have arranged thousands of funerals, and I can remember every child that I've ever buried. The work this committee is doing is very important.

One of the things you mentioned was that different cultures require more time. I want to reiterate that some funerals can take up to a week to arrange. A normal funeral arrangement takes a couple of hours for a grandparent or an elderly person. When it comes to a child and getting answers from a couple who have never arranged a funeral, you can't even do it in one day. Children's funeral arrangements take a period of time. They have to take these ideas home so they can plan, and every culture is different. In some communities, as I said, it can be spread over a week.

Are you considering the timelines that it takes to arrange a funeral? Are you aware that it takes up to a month just to have the funeral process take place?

4:25 p.m.

Liberal

Terry Beech Liberal Burnaby North—Seymour, BC

I want to give four comments, and I'll be very fast about including an answer to that question.

Thank you to my colleague for the consideration on the motion he wants to put forward and for leaving it until the end.

I appreciate the clarification on the royal recommendation and the Conservative stance. That is truly appreciated, so thank you for that. I'll have to leave you in the hands of the parliamentary secretary and the minister for the decision, of course. That's outside of my control.

With regard to the timing, I believe the amount of funding in the index of the budget was for a minimum of eight weeks, which should be enough time for most situations and also to get organized in the worst case. I think there is adequate time there.

I have an East Indian wife. I've learned about a lot of different cultures in this job and in my own marriage. What you say about cultural differences and your obvious experience.... It's unbelievable service that you're providing to those families in those situations, and I can believe that it must weigh on you heavily. I appreciate you for that service, and I thank you for the question.

4:25 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

We're going to Madame Koutrakis for five minutes, after which the witness portion will conclude.

I will stay in the meeting to deal with Mr. Genuis's issue.

4:25 p.m.

Liberal

Annie Koutrakis Liberal Vimy, QC

I thank Mr. Beech for being here today and for the incredible work he has done on this bill. It's very important legislation. Hopefully we can get it done without delay.

I know you have, during your testimony, time and again, mentioned why it's important to pass it without delay. I will ask you this one more time: Why, in your opinion, is it important for the committee to stick to the bill as drafted in order to ensure that grieving parents receive support as intended and without delay?