moved for leave to introduce Bill C-491, an act respecting education benefits for spouses and children of certain deceased federal enforcement officials.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to introduce my private member's bill, an act respecting education benefits for spouses and children of certain deceased federal enforcement officials.
This bill proposes to fund the equivalent of one post-secondary degree for children and spouses of federal enforcement officials who have died as a result of injuries received or illness contracted in the discharge of their duties.
The definition of a federal enforcement official in my bill is slightly different from the current definition of peace officer contained in federal legislation. This bill will apply to certain employees of Correctional Service Canada, Canada Customs and Revenue Agency, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Parks Canada, Canadian Security Intelligence Service, Department of Citizenship and Immigration, RCMP officers, and members of the Canadian armed forces.
Between 1989 and 1999 a total of 23 federal police enforcement officials were killed in the line of duty. During that same time, 22 members of the Canadian armed forces serving in peacekeeping missions abroad also lost their lives while serving our country.
Given that federal enforcement officials risk their lives to protect Canadians—