Have you recently welcomed a child into your life? The Canadian government is currently considering making benefits for eligible new parents a little more flexible, and is asking for input from the public on two different options:
- Allowing combined maternity and parental benefits and unpaid leaves to be extended to up to 18 months at a lower EI benefit rate (more time off work, with less money per month)
- Allowing the current amount of parental benefits and unpaid leave to be taken in smaller blocks of time over a period of up to 18 months rather than over 12 months.
Have a read of this discussion paper and then weigh in on the topic here.