Quebecers call for parental leave reform after EI denial

Clarissa Zelmat had just returned from maternity leave a few weeks ago when she was laid off and the bad news came when she was denied employment insurance.

“Two days before Christmas they told me, ‘Hey, you can’t because you just got back from maternity leave and it’s the same amount of money,'” she said.

Under the current system, a worker must set aside a certain number of hours to submit a new claim. But most people returning from parental leave cannot meet this requirement.

It took Zelmat six months to find a new job and she says she “would have been screwed” if it weren’t for her partner’s financial support.

Every year in Canada, 3,000 women leave their jobs after taking maternity leave, according to labor lawyer Gabriel Pelletier.

“This is an issue that disproportionately affects women. And we have to find a solution to ensure that if that happens, they can be covered, at least for a while,” he said.

The agency representing unemployed Quebecers has launched a campaign calling on Ottawa to reform its EI system. It offers a 15-week extension for anyone furloughed after returning from maternity leave. It won’t cost much and will help many people get back to work, Pelletier said.

“The EI fund is not going to go bankrupt because of this — let’s be very clear — 3,000 women, about 15 weeks of additional benefits,” Pelletier said.

“It’s a fraction of a percent. It’s almost nothing. So the Liberal government could easily do that.”

With elections approaching, time is running out to change the system, he said.

Zelmat, who is pregnant with her second child, says she was assured that work would be there when she returned.

“We are not not working. We will have children,” she said.

“And they said, ‘Don’t worry about it. We will do our best to keep you with us. So don’t panic. Don’t panic.'”

CTV News reached out to Employment and Social Development Canada for comment but did not receive a response before publication.