Up to 97,000 Canadian families are expected to claim the parental sharing benefit per year
March 15, 2019 Brampton, Ontario Employment and Social Development Canada
Supporting parents and young families has always been a priority for the Government of Canada. That is why the Government will introduce the Employment Insurance parental sharing benefit.
Today, at the Brampton YMCA Child Care Centre, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, announced that in two days, soon-to-be parents will be eligible to receive extra weeks of parental benefits. In an effort to encourage more parents to share the work of raising their children more equally, the Government of Canada will launch the parental sharing benefit on March 17, 2019.
The new measure will be available to parents, including adoptive or same-sex parents, for a child born or placed for the purpose of adoption on or after March 17, 2019—as long as they are eligible for and share their Employment Insurance parental benefits. When parents agree to do so, they will benefit from one of the following:
- five additional weeks of parental benefits when choosing the standard option; or
- eight additional weeks for those who choose the extended option.
Corresponding changes to the Canada Labour Code will also be made to ensure that federally regulated private‑sector employees have the right to take leave while receiving the parental sharing benefit without fear of losing their job.
"As we've seen in Quebec and in other jurisdictions that have implemented similar policies, this type of benefit has been proven to encourage a more balanced sharing of child care responsibilities. This new measure will help us break down barriers to gender equality by shifting cultural attitudes against men taking parental leave, and will help Canadians spend more time with their families."
– The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
"The introduction of the new five-week parental sharing benefit is welcome news for Canadian families. This additional leave will encourage all parents to be engaged in full-time caregiving for their infants, helping to create greater financial security for women, and stronger bonds between fathers or second parents and their babies. By encouraging a more equitable distribution of child care within the home, this new parental leave benefit gives families more flexible child care options and advances gender equality both at home and in the workplace."
– The Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister of International Development and Minister for Women and Gender Equality
"The parental sharing benefit will give parents extra flexibility and encourage Canadians to share the joy and responsibility of raising their children more equally and lovingly."
– Ramesh Sangha, Member of Parliament for Brampton Centre
"The YMCA welcomes these new measures for parents because we know that healthy families are supported families. These enhancements will give parents greater flexibility during their child's infancy and provide more child care choices for families."
– Jennifer Holmes Weier, Senior Vice President, Advocacy, Communications and Public Policy, YMCA Canada
Quick facts
-
In 2016–17, women represented 85 percent of all parental benefit claims made, indicating that child care duties continue to fall heavily on mothers.
-
In 2017, in large part due to the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan, 81 percent of spouses or partners of recent mothers in Quebec claimed or intended to claim parental benefits, compared to only 12 percent in the rest of Canada.
