Hon. Percy E. Downe:

Honourable senators, I join the debate on Bill C-13, an Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act.

This bill extends access to parental benefits for members of the Canadian forces to a maximum of 104 weeks instead of 52 weeks, if the member's parental leave is deferred, or if the member is recalled to duty in the first year that a child is born or adopted. This change ensures that Canadian Forces members can benefit from the programs to which they are entitled.

This bill, in many ways, is a housekeeping matter. Canadians serving overseas ask for flexibility. They ask that our laws and programs respond to their needs, and, in this case, we are simply rectifying a problem.

Members of the Canadians Forces and their families deserve this fairness. They deserve the best support system and programs in the world. It is one small change, but it is a move in the right direction.

The House of Commons Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development heard testimony on this bill from those who have had firsthand experience being denied parental leave because of their service to Canada.

They discussed the challenges faced by military families when a member leaves a family behind to serve overseas. They expressed their strong support for the bill. They are, honourable senators, the voice of many.

I believe that there is consensus on this bill because it is a policy change that all can agree on.

However, there are questions, honourable senators, on whether this bill needs to go much further. I believe that all Canadians who are called to duty overseas on behalf of the Canadian government should also be included in this bill: RCMP members, civilian police who serve, as well as public servants and diplomats who put themselves in harm's way to participate in international missions, all in the name of Canada. All those groups are excluded. All those people also leave their families to serve Canada.

Honourable senators, this bill falls short of the assistance that is required for the RCMP, other police forces and public servants. However, this change is only one of many that are required in the government's approach to Canadian Forces members and veterans.

The government talks about fairness for military families. Indeed, they have called this bill the "Fairness for Military Families Act." However, the government needs to provide much more support to members of the Canadian Forces and their families and Canadian veterans and their families after they leave the Canadian Forces.

Where is the fairness for the reservists and their families? Where is the fairness on Agent Orange compensation? Where is the fairness for medically released qualified veterans seeking employment in the federal public service? When can we expect action on those and many other issues about fairness?

Members of the Canadian Forces and veterans look to the Government of Canada for real support. They do not want broken promises, and they do not want platitudes — they want action.

Beyond supporting the health and safety of our troops, members of the Canadian Forces and veterans seek post military employment and career assistance. They want efficient service, health care and good communication with the government. They want the government to listen and respond to their needs.

With the creation of New Veterans Charter in 2005, the Government of Canada was to make a better effort in responding to the diverse and complex needs of our veterans, while continuing to deliver quality services. This takes a serious commitment and more than just talk.

We cannot pass housekeeping laws and think we have solved the problems suffered by our Canadian Forces members and veterans. Look at the example in the Public Service Commission that I mentioned earlier. It is a case where a well-intentioned program was put in place, but not managed or implemented effectively.

Honourable senators will recall that since 2005, qualified medically released Canadian Forces veterans have been eligible for priority employment appointments to the federal public service. These new provisions have created important career opportunities for veterans, but unfortunately there are low participation levels in most federal government departments.

I recently learned, in a follow-up to a question I asked at the Senate Finance Committee of the president of the Public Service Commission, that only one federal department, the Department of National Defence, was really participating in hiring eligible medically released veterans.

To make matters worse, in 2007-08, 67 veterans had their priority status expire without finding work. I ask honourable senators this: Why are 67 medically released veterans who want to work for the federal government, who are willing and able to work, being left waiting — waiting for independence; waiting for the opportunity to support themselves and their families, the very families who had to bid farewell to their loved ones not knowing what would happen next? They took these steps with the understanding that Canada would take care of its own. Were they misled? These medically released veterans have been injured — in many cases, seriously — serving Canada.

All qualified veterans would have found work if all federal departments were actively participating in the program. In a federal workforce of 380,000 positions across Canada, jobs could have been found for all.

Honourable senators, this bill responds to a need expressed by military families. It is my hope that the government will expand the bill and prove by their actions that they are listening and responding to the needs of our Canadian Forces and our veterans, members of the RCMP and police forces, and others who serve Canada overseas.

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