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| Parental Leave Benefits Extended By Louis Erlichman Canadian Research Director |
| The federal government recently extended the maximum duration of Employment Insurance parental leave benefits. For children born or adopted on or after December 31, 2000, the maximum duration of parental leave benefits has been increased from 15 to 35 weeks. Parental leave can be taken by either parent or shared, with a single two-week waiting period. Parental leave benefits are addition to maternity leave benefits of up to 15 weeks (which can be taken only by the biological mother, around the birth of the child). Up to 15 weeks sickness benefit is also available, but the maximum total benefit period for both parents is 50 weeks. To be eligible for E.I. parental or maternity benefits you need to have contributed for 600 insured hours in the last 52 weeks or since your last claim (down from 700 hours previously, but still a significant hurdle for part-time workers). The amount of parental or maternity benefit is the same as the regular E.I. unemployment benefit – 55% of insurable earnings (possibly slightly higher for low-earners) – with a weekly maximum benefit of $413. If you are receiving E.I. parental benefits (but not maternity or sickness benefits) you can earn up to the greater of $50/week or 25% of your benefit without reduction to your E.I. benefits. The provinces are moving to bring their employment standards legislation in line with the extended E.I. benefits. So far, every jurisdiction but Saskatchewan and the territories has at least introduced legislation to guarantee the right to take up to 52 weeks of total parental leave without losing your job, though there is variation in eligibility conditions and whether benefit coverage must be maintained during the leave. |
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