Real Change: A New Plan For a Strong Middle Class (page 18)

« The Liberals promised during the election to extend parental benefits under the employment insurance system to 18 months from 12. The new system wouldn't have a similar increase in benefits, but would instead allow parents to spread one year's worth of payments over a year and a half. »

(CBC, April 18, 2016)

« The federal government is signalling that when it finally unveils changes to parental leave rules, there will be provisions dedicated exclusively to new fathers.

When Prime Minister Justin Trudeau mused about the idea last month at the United Nations, it was in the context of more gender equality and increasing opportunities for women in the workforce. »

(CBC, April 17, 2016)

“To help working parents navigate the challenges that come with a growing family, Budget 2017 proposes to make EI parental benefits more flexible.
Proposed changes will allow parents to choose to receive EI parental benefits over an extended period of up to 18 months at a lower benefit rate of 33 per cent of average weekly earnings. EI parental benefits will continue to be available at the existing benefit rate of 55 per cent over a period of up to 12 months. Making EI parental benefits more flexible is expected to cost $152 million over five years, starting in 2017–18, and $27.5 million per year thereafter. Budget 2017 also proposes to allow women to claim EI maternity benefits up to 12 weeks before their due date—expanded from the current standard of 8 weeks—if they so choose. The additional flexibility is expected to cost $43.1 million over five years, starting in 2017–18, and $9.2 million per year thereafter. " (Building a strong middle class, March 22, 2017)