Fathers across Canada may soon get their own opportunity to benefit from a government-paid parental leave program, says Canadian Press. Before winning the federal election in October 2015, the Liberals promised to extend parental benefits which now pay working mothers a portion of their salaries for one year while they stay home to care for their newborns.
Most fathers must now share leave benefits
As it now stands, fathers can use up to 35 weeks of the mother’s leave. The exception is in the province of Quebec where fathers can take five weeks independent of the mother’s leave. It appears the Canadian government will follow suit and offer something similar to fathers in the rest of the country.
The Liberals said they would extend parental benefits which are paid under the country’s employment insurance system from 12 months to 18. But that would not mean an increase in the number of payments, simply that they could be spread out over the longer period of time.
Canadians are also allowed to get up to 26 weeks of benefits from employment insurance when they take time off work to care for a family member who is very sick.
(from Canadian Press)
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