The federal Conservatives are proposing a trio of employment insurance reforms they argue would make parental leaves more flexible for modern families.
Conservative employment critic Garnett Genuis and three other Tory MPs held a press conference in Ottawa to unveil their proposals.
They say parents should be able to earn money from childcare services without losing benefits, and that parents should be guaranteed the ability to pursue education or skills training while on leave.
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They are also calling for the government to allow parental leaves to be interrupted with a brief return to work before they finish the rest of their leave.
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They say Quebec already allows parents to pause their leaves, and that’s something that should be available to other Canadians as well.
Conservative MP Sandra Cobena says that would allow greater flexibility for farmers during harvest season, and would also be useful for families who work in the tourism, tax, legal and real-estate sectors.
The Conservatives should have known who the ladies are that are eliminated from EI. Self employed ladies, even though paying both worker and owners EI, do not receive parental leave benefits. Real estate agents, coffee house owners, hair dressers, so many ladies are excluded but the Conservatives have included them in their rant for change.
Interesting. The Conservatives are actually proposing spending more on social programs while at the same time blaming the Liberals for spending too much. AND the Conservatives say they will axe the tax. So where will the money to fund these reforms come from? Veteran care? Education? Law Enforcement? Health Care? I noticed they are rather silent on HOW these reforms will be funded.
They will have chance when their axe the tacks leader is in a better position.
Pausing parental leave is reasonable. As this is money given because a parent needs to stay with a newborn, I do not see how that allows for another job or training. If one wants to open a daycare, then that is working. If one is going to school/training, then one is not available for the newborn. – you just cannot double dip. – Conservatives need to think before they post these crazy ideas.