Recommendation 17

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Parental leave

Recommendation 17:

Recommendation 17: Parental leave

The commission recommends establishing a maternity leave program via the Unemployment Insurance Act so that women who contribute could have access to eighteen weeks of paid leave. The program was launched in 1971, but offered only fifteen weeks.

Recommendation 17: Parental leave

A new standard for maternity benefits is set when Canadian Union Postal Workers go on strike for forty-two days. The victory yields seventeen weeks of federal paid leave and helps catapult the issue into the public eye.

Recommendation 17: Parental leave

Justin Trudeau promises a fifteen week parental leave for adoptive parents as part of his reelection campaign. It is a step in the right direction, but some adoptive parents argue that they need more time to bond with their children than this period allows.

Recommendation 17: Parental leave

New and expectant parents laid off during the COVID-19 pandemic before qualifying for employment insurance benefits are left struggling for benefits. The pandemic-affected school year offers a dilemma for parents as many Canadians — particularly mothers — are forced to choose between their careers and childcare.