Stephen Harper vows extended parental leave with option to stretch existing benefits over 18 months

Nationalpost.com
Oct. 7, 2015

The Conservatives are announcing added parental leave benefits under employment insurance, including extending the length of time mothers and fathers would have their jobs protected.

Party leader Stephen Harper said on Wednesday a Tory government would provide up to 18 months of job protection for new parents, up from the current federal Labour Code provisions that grant that protection for a year.

Parents on EI would also have the option to stretch EI benefits over 18 months, starting next year, Harper said, and a two-year pilot project would be established to allow parents to earn self-employment income while on EI.

The Conservatives say about 170,000 women receive EI parental benefits each year, with the number of fathers using the benefits also steadily rising.

Harper made the announcement while campaigning in Saskatoon.

In August, Justin Trudeau also proposed two new parental leave options under Employment Insurance: parents could receive their benefits in smaller blocks of time over an 18-month period, instead of taking it all in 12 consecutive months; or could take a longer leave, up to 18 months, at a lower pay level.

Trudeau said at the time that the changes would not mean any increases to employment insurance premiums.