Member of Parliament Niki Ashton spoke in the House of Commons last week regarding the federal government’s decision not to extend sick benefits for workers. The current number of weeks that people can take to recover from an illness or injury is 15 weeks and Ashton doesn’t believe that this is long enough.

Ashton pointed out people in Northern Manitoba and across the country are in need of this kind of help but this government isn’t there to give it to them. She notes when rich Americans want pipelines built this government goes the extra mile but when regular Canadians who are being forced to return to work either sick or injured or quit their jobs because they are too sick to perform this government doesn’t even budge and inch, they’ll propose a study but they certainly won’t do anything to actually improve your life.

Ashton concluded her statement by saying politics that privileges style over substance is typical of this government and it is seen in their attitude towards reconciliation and indigenous people, the environment, and the sick and injured.