Banff-Airdrie MP Blake Richards says a major step forward has been taken by extending bereavement leave but believes much more remains to be done.

Bereavement leave was extended in Bill C-3 that received Royal Assent on Dec. 17. Parents who have experienced a stillbirth, the death of a child under 18, or the death of a disabled child are now entitled to eight weeks of unpaid leave.

It came about after the Liberal government included part of Conservative MP Tom Kmiec's Private Member's Bill C-222 in amendments to the Criminal Code and the Canada Labour Code.

"It's certainly a start," says Richards. "We have more work to do, but it's a huge step towards what we've been trying to do. It's a pretty nice way to finish off the parliamentary year."

He says the Conservatives have supported the creation of a 12-week bereavement leave benefit in its last two election platforms. Richards has been advocating for the benefit even longer.

In 2018, he brought forward Motion 110, a non-partisan private member’s motion that lead to the completion of a report offering seven recommendations on how to assist families losing an infant child. Among them was the need to provide income support for 12 to 15 weeks for parents grieving the loss of an infant child through stillbirth, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), and other complications.

In August 2019, Richards debated Winnipeg North Liberal MP Kevin Lamoureux on the lack of action on key recommendations in the report. He came away disappointed, believing Lamoureux did not address what action the Liberal Government had taken.

He has circulated petitions in both 2019 and 2021.

He vows to continue his advocacy and will be meeting with government ministers in the New Year to further discuss the issue.

"If all else fails, when we have a Conservative Government in this country after the next election, we can get it accomplished."