e-2348 (Employment and labour)

Petition to the House of Commons in Parliament assembled

• Motion 110 was a non-partisan effort put forward by Member of Parliament Blake Richards, passed unanimously in the House of Commons in June 2018, to bring the issue of child loss, its impact on parents, and the shortcomings with current government programming forward for committee study;
• the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (HUMA) heard powerful witness testimony from parents who have been affected by pregnancy and infant loss on what the government can do to ensure parents no longer suffer any undue financial or emotional hardship as a result of the design of government programming;
• the liberal members of Parliaments on HUMA moved to shut down debate on a motion that would have had the Committee finish its study and table its report and recommendations on Motion 110 prior to the winter break of the House Commons;
• Every single party except the Liberal Party voted for a proposed amendment to the Budget Implementation Act No. 2 that would have created a new 12-week bereavement leave for parents dealing with the death of a child; and
• Grieving parents will no longer accept excuses from this government and expect action to be taken immediately to provide better support and compassion for those who have suffered as a result of pregnancy and infant loss.