PRESS RELEASE: 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.

New Democrat 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.”