Mr. Speaker, I would like to speak in favour of the bill tabled by the hon. member for Restigouche-Chaleur and tell him that we, the official opposition, truly hope that this private members' bill will become law.
It is indeed a flagrant injustice that people collecting unemployment insurance lose their benefits when they accept jury duty. It is an injustice of the kind that could compromise justice in all of the provinces and in all of Canada.
Some people have said that this provision should be covered by provincial law. I think it should be the opposite. In fact, what we have before us is an amendment to the Unemployment Insurance Act that would guarantee that jurors would not lose their entitlement to UI benefits because they are on jury duty. I must point out that, for the act to apply, the person submitting the claim for benefits under the Unemployment Insurance Act must already qualify and continue to qualify under this bill.
It is difficult to be a juror. It is certainly more difficult than being a member of Parliament who is trying to deliver a speech when everyone is talking. They have to carry out certain duties and we should at least make it easier for them. In fact, it is thanks to jurors that we have a justice system that is based on decisions made freely by citizens-