Federal Government's 2017 Budget Proposes Changes to Maternity and Parental Leave

The Liberal Government's 2017 federal budget ("Budget 2017") proposes changes that affect maternity and parental leaves and associated Employment Insurance ("EI") benefits.

Currently, EI combined parental and maternity benefits are available at the benefit rate of 55 per cent over a period of up to 12 months. Budget 2017 proposes that this option continue to be available, but parents will alternatively be able to choose to receive EI maternity and parental benefits over an extended period of up to 18 months at a lower benefits rate of 33 per cent of average weekly earnings. Budget 2017 also proposes that women giving birth will be able to claim EI maternity benefits up to 12 weeks before their due date – an increase from the current standard of 8 weeks.