moved for leave to introduce Bill C-217, An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act (illness, injury or quarantine).
Mr. Speaker, last Wednesday, parliamentarians adopted the motion moved by the member for Beloeil—Chambly, the leader of the Bloc Québécois, calling on the government to increase the special employment insurance sickness benefits from 15 weeks to 50 weeks.
Today, I have the pleasure of introducing, on behalf of the Bloc Québécois and myself, a bill to amend the Employment Insurance Act respecting illness, injury or quarantine. This bill is designed to address the needs of the most vulnerable workers struggling with a serious illness. They are entitled to a fair and compassionate employment insurance program.
Parliamentarians have a great opportunity to amend the existing act, and we remind the government that it is very important to support the bill introduced today.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)