Employment Insurance: Maternity and Parental Leave - Background Highlights - More Than Just Premiums: Quebec and Canada - Canadian Bar Association Standing Committee on Equality

Employment Insurance: Maternity and Parental Leave

Background Highlights

More Than Just Premiums: Quebec and Canada

Submission to the
Canadian Bar Association Standing Committee on Equality
by Marcell M. Marion
(published with permission)

Contents

Canadian Bar Association Resolution: 03-03-M

This page was originally published with permission by the author.

We have since been requested to remove the content from a CBA staff person
stating that the CBA policy is not to make public the CBA lobbying strategy.
Hence, we are removing all but the CBA resolution which is available to the public.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Highlights on Employment Insurance Maternity and Parental Leave Benefits in Canada
Introduction
Highlights on the Canada’s current EI program
Highlights on Self-Employment in Canada
Highlights on Professional Networks/Associations
Three Models for Extending Maternity and Parental Protection to the Self-Employed
Summary of Options for Maternity and Parental Leave Protection
Conclusions

Canadian Bar Association Resolution: 03-03-M

March 2003 – Midwinter - Banff

WHEREAS at the 1995 Mid-Winter Meeting in Charlotttetown, CBA Council adopted a resolution calling for the federal government to extend maternity and parental leave benefits under the Unemployment Insurance scheme to self-employed individuals;

WHEREAS the Government of Quebec has adopted Bill 140, enabling access to maternity and parental leave benefits for the self-employed residing in Quebec and that, once implemented, such legislation is a mandatory plan;

Whereas the federal government has not yet extended maternity and parental leave benefits to those who are self-employed;

Whereas the Prime Minister of Canada has created a Task Force on Women Entrepreneurs to examine the unique challenges faced by women entrepreneurs and to advise on how the federal government can advance the contribution of women entrepreneurs to the Canadian economy;



BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE CBA:

•                     URGE THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA AGAIN TO ADOPT LEGISLATION CONSISTENT WITH QUEBEC’S BILL 140, TO PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BENEFITS TO SELF-EMPLOYED INDIVIDUALS, PARTICULARLY WOMEN, FOR MATERNITY AND PARENTAL LEAVE;

•                     URGE ALL LAW SOCIETIES AND LEGAL ASSOCIATIONS TO WRITE TO THE MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT CANADA AND THE PRIME MINISTER IN SUPPORT OF THIS; AND

•                     WORK WITH OTHER PROFESSIONAL GROUPS TO LOBBY FOR THIS CHANGE.