Human Resources committee  Yes, I would like to target parental leave. A parent is a parent. In my opinion, whether these people are natural parents, biological parents or adoptive parents, they are parents and they have full responsibility. There should be no difference. Whether it be employment insurance, parental leave or all the other programs, the same benefits should be granted.

Human Resources committee  I am a parent of adopted children.

Human Resources committee  A few years ago.

Human Resources committee  That's a good question. When I was deputy minister, we held what we called FPT meetings, federal-provincial/territorial meetings. Child welfare-related topics were never on the agenda. Child protection was, but child welfare and adoption were never discussed. At one point, there were what was called child welfare services directors, or directors of child welfare.

Human Resources committee  To answer your first question, Mr. Lessard, I would say it's come from below, but the top has also intervened. This is an initiative that came from the department at the time, the former department of family and community services, now called the department of social development.

Human Resources committee  No, the peers are parents... In New Brunswick, when people adopt—

Human Resources committee  I'm going to be brief. Peers are other adoptive parents who help each other. They don't know each other. Someone has to promote—

Human Resources committee  Pardon me?

Human Resources committee  That's it.

Human Resources committee  I'm going to start. Good morning, Madam Chair. The two of us will be making the presentation, so I'll be quite brief. Back in 2001, I was at the department. Today I am a volunteer. In 2001, we had 1,200 children under our care, 800 of whom were legally available for adoption. There was an eight-year waiting period for parents wishing to adopt young children.