Conservatives match Liberal pledge to extend parental leave to 18 months

Stephen Harper made an election pitch straight at young families Wednesday, proposing changes to the employment insurance system that wouldextend maternity and parental leave benefits to 18 months, up from the one-year program now offered.

In addition to changing the federal Labour Code provisions that protectparents' jobs while they're away,Conservatives propose lengthening the amount of time new parents are eligible to receivebenefits.

For those who are self-employed or just need to return to work earlier, pilot programscouldallow new parentsto combinework and time off for child carewithout their benefits being reduced.

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In August, Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau unveiled a Liberal plan to reform parental leave that wouldallow newparents to access benefits in portions for a period of up to 18 months,making it possible to taketime off, return to workand take more time off within that period.

If elected, a Liberal government would also extend employment insurance benefits for up to 18 months, at a lower benefit level.

Introducing her husband Wednesday at the Conservative campaign event in Saskatoon, Laureen Harper spoke about her experience trying to keep working after giving birth. Shecalled thisplatform pledge a "game-changer" for working families.

"We want to support new parents by giving them as much choice and flexibility as possible in achieving the balance and making the career and financial decisions that are right for your family," the Conservative leader said.

"All of these commitments are designed to provide choice and flexibility for new parents," Stephen Harper said, calling them fair and affordable for the government.

The Labour Code changes would affect an estimated 17,000federal civil servants and workers in federallyregulated sectors, who could now take an extra six months of leave.

The amount of job protection afforded to other workersvaries by province.

Currently, new mothers can claim 15 weeks of maternity leave under employment insurance. Then either parent can claim up to an additional 35 weeks of parental leave, adding up to 50 weeks in total benefits.

The Conservative proposal would give parents the option ofextendingthe parental benefits period up to a maximum of 61 weeks, stretching the benefits outat a lower rate of payment.

Earning while on leave

A new two-year pilot program wouldallow self-employed parents to better combine their work and family demands. The current system penalizes self-employed parents who continue to earn income from their business while on leave.

The proposalwill let self-employed parents supplement theirEI benefits with self-employment income. Aworker receivingthe maximum weekly EI parental benefit of $537 per week (55 per cent of the maximum allowable earnings for 2016)could earn another$439 per week in self-employment earnings before the EI was clawed back, up toa total of $50,800 annually. That's100 per cent of the annual earnings threshold eligible for EI.

Mothers who receivematernity benefits for the first stage of their leave after childbirthwould also have the option to participate in a pilot project for those wishing to work while claiming benefits. Currently, the pilot programonly allows participation during the latter, parental leave portion of a mother's total time away from work.

Under the pilot scheme, parents on leave can keep 50 cents of their benefits for every dollar earned, up to 90 per centof the weekly insurable earnings used to calculate benefits ($976). Earnings above thatare deducted dollar for dollar from their benefits.Up to 34,000 women annually are expected to benefit from this change.

The changes would only be implemented if a Conservative government is re-elected on Oct. 19.

About 170,000 women claim EI benefits each year under the current system. Roughly190,000 workersclaim parental benefits. The number of menusing the parental leave option has beensteadily rising currently sitting ataround 30 per cent of those making claims.

Offering employment insurance benefits for self-employed parents was a 2008 election promise.

However, the program later implemented was unpopular with families. Employment and Social Development Canada commissioned a review to studyhow it couldimprove, but thefindings were not made available to CBC News when requested lastAugust.

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