This initiative will address the issue of women’s economic autonomy. It will build on our original research of the current parental benefits legislation and our extensive consultation process. In this initiative, we will use our final recommendations to communicate potential public policy changes.

Women’s Network PEI has conducted work relating to Maternity and Parental Benefits from Atlantic Canada, with Atlantic partners. It is important to continue to work from this perspective, then share our work across the country. This has been a major factor in the success of our work to this point.

Atlantic Canada was the perfect place to start the research and consultation process. Our Atlantic economy has been stronger over the past few years, but these gains have not been enjoyed by all members of Atlantic Canada equally. In 1999, 41% of employed women aged 15 to 64 had non-standard employment arrangements compared with 35% in 1989. The nonstandard work arrangements include women with low incomes, women working seasonal jobs, women who are employed part-time or underemployed, women with temporary jobs, women who hold more than one job, and women who do contract work, just to name a few. Statistics bear out the fact that for several reasons related to women’s paid work, they find it harder than men to qualify for EI, therefore, maternity and parental benefits. Our Atlantic economy is plagued with these types of jobs for women, but these same jobs exist everywhere in Canada.

Besides the issues of women’s paid work in Atlantic Canada that leads to eligibility problems for maternity and parental benefits, their lower wages also mean they can’t afford to be off work for the year without incurring personal debt. Under the current Act, EI replaces 55% of weekly income for eligible parents to a maximum of $413 or approximately $350 after taxes. In 2003, the low-income cut-off (LICO) rate in Atlantic Canada was $24,390. If a single mother with two children receives the maximum benefit, her income for the year would total $20,650, well below the poverty line. If she receives the average weekly benefit for Atlantic Canadian parents, she would receive approximately $292 per week, $14,600 for the year.

Women’s incomes are much lower than their male counterparts. The wage replacement for women on maternity and parental leave will be substantially lower, with most women receiving less than the maximum benefit available. In Atlantic Canada, the average weekly payout for parental benefits is $292 while the average for maternity benefits is $272. The low wage replacement is particularly hard on the most vulnerable and marginalised women. As with eligibility, wage replacement rates for Atlantic women are critical issue, but this issue exists everywhere in Canada.

Goal

To communicate specific public policy recommendations that will increase access to maternity and parental benefits and increase value of benefits for Canadian families.

Objectives

1. To Work With Partners Toward Specific Changes to Parental Benefits Legislation: There will be two partnership tiers in this project – one among Atlantic Partners and the other with The National Association of Women and the Law (NAWL) and Association féminine d'éducation et d'action sociale (AFEAS). Through terms of reference that will be jointly agreed to and developed, WNPEI, NAWL and AFEAS will demonstrate that they have well defined roles and responsibilities, understand the others’ environment, know which audiences to target, know when it’s appropriate to coordinate actions, and aim to communicate consistently and clearly.

2. To Engage with Canadians and Decision Makers About Reforms to Parental Benefits Legislation: Design and develop a Public Communications Plan that will be utilized to communicate the policy recommendations to key audiences and decision-makers using a four-pronged approach for government, grassroots organizations, academia, and the general public.

Maternity and Parental Benefits Research from Women's Network:

• Improving Maternity and Parental Benefits for Canadians - One Pager (PDF)
• Final Recommendations Summary (PDF)
• Sommaire des recommandations finales (PDF)
• Final Recommendations Report (PDF)
• Rapport Final (PDF)
• Press Releases
• Advisory Committee

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Women's Network Office
located at 40 Enman Crescent, in Charlottetown

mailing address:
P.O. Box 233,
Charlottetown, PEI C1A 7K4

phone: (902) 368-5040
fax: (902) 368-5039
e-mail: wnpei@wnpei.org