NDP Communiqué
April 28, 2009
CHARLTON INTRODUCES BILL TO MAKE EI FAIR FOR MOTHERS
New Democrat MP calls on government to fix EI maternity leave inequities before Mother’s Day
OTTAWA – With layoff announcements coming almost daily, new mothers often return to work, only to lose their jobs soon after. Shamefully, many are finding out that they no longer qualify for Employment Insurance they have paid for.
NDP Labour Critic, Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain), will introduce a bill this week that fixes provisions in the EI Act that unfairly penalize mothers accessing maternity and parental leave.
“Liberal reforms to Canada’s Employment Insurance regime, and Conservative inaction, mean that today, only 4 in 10 ‘officially unemployed’ Canadian workers receive EI coverage,” said Ms. Charlton. “My bill will bring fairness to working mothers by eliminating the combined 50 week cap entirely, so that families could access their maternity, parental, sickness and compassionate care benefits without worrying that, if they lose their jobs in the interim, they will also lose their EI.”
One of the many barriers that prevent working families from accessing their EI entitlements are the anti-stacking provision found within the Employment Insurance Act. For example, these provisions prevent mothers who have secured maternity and parental benefits from accessing “regular” EI benefits in the event that they lose their jobs during these officially-sanctioned leaves.
Charlton challenged the Harper Government to fix the EI maternity leave inequities before Mother’s Day 2009.
“We know that this government is capable of rushing through priority legislation in as little as a couple of days. They’ve done it before,” said Ms. Charlton. “Hard-working women deserve more than just flowers and chocolates, they deserve fairness when it comes to accessing EI this Mother’s Day.”
– 30 –
For more information, please contact:
Sam Dinicol, Office of Chris Charlton, 613-222-7241 (cell) or 613-995-9400 (office)
Carole Saab, NDP Press Secretary, 613-222-5997
Print and sign the petition
Frequently Asked Questions – An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act (elimination of maximum number of weeks: combined weeks of benefits)
How does the Employment Insurance Act discriminate against new mothers and others who access “special benefits” from claiming “regular benefits”? One of the many barriers that prevent working families from accessing the benefit entitlements their deductions support are the anti-stacking provisions found within the Employment Insurance Act. These provisions prevent mothers who have secured the full amount of “special” maternity and parental benefit entitlements from accessing “regular” benefits in the event that they lose their jobs during these officially-sanctioned leaves.
For example, suppose that “Sally Steelworker” was to take advantage of EI’s special benefits to give birth to and care for her newborn child. Having worked full-time for several years before becoming pregnant, Sally was entitled to 15 weeks of maternity leave and 35 weeks of parental leave. However, shortly before the end of this leave and her return to the workforce, the steel plant Sally worked at for many years was sold to an international company and her plant was subsequently closed. Most of Sally’s co-workers immediately made claims for EI benefits and were eligible. Sally applied as well, however, unlike her co-workers, she was ineligible for coverage because the anti-stacking provisions of the EIA which cap the maximum amount benefit weeks a person can access at 50.
What does Chris’s Private Member’s Bill do to fix this inequity? Chris’s Bill reforms the Employment Insurance Act and will bring fairness to working mothers and others accessing “special benefits” by eliminating the combined 50 week cap entirely. Families will then be able to access their maternity, parental, sickness and compassionate care benefits without worrying that, if they lose their jobs in the interim, they will also lose their EI
Does this Bill ONLY affect those accessing maternity and parental leave benefits? No. Chris’s bill would apply to all those accessing “special benefits”, including any: Maternity Leave (15 weeks), Parental Leave (35 weeks), Sick Leave (15 weeks), or Compassionate Leave (6 weeks)
Chris is asking for the government to fix this inequity before Mother’s Day. How fast can legislation be passed in the House of Commons? With unanimous consent, legislation can be passed in a few minutes. Without unanimous consent, it can take as little as a week. For example, bill C-17, that designated Beachwood cemetery as Canada’s National Cemetery, was passed through 2nd & 3rd in one day a couple of weeks ago. Another example was Bill C-11, a land claims deal, that was passed through the House in one day.
|
