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National Child's Day Time to Assert the Need for Adequate Maternity and Parental Benefits

November 19, 2004 – The Government of Canada designated November 20 as National Child's Day to commemorate the day on which both the Declaration on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Rights of the Child were adopted. The Women's Network PEI recognizes National Child's Day and wishes to assert the need for positive changes to the national maternity and parental benefits program that will help ensure that every child has the best possible start in life.

National Child's Day was created as a reminder of the importance of children. Children are Canada's most valuable resource. They have a direct influence in the development and stability of this nation. On November 20, Canada will celebrate children just for being themselves. Canada recognizes that a child's earliest years develop the foundation that his or her life will be built upon. In January 2001, Human Resource Development Canada increased the maternity and parental benefits pay-out to 50 weeks for eligible parents. This global policy has two key, positive elements:

  • Added flexibility for women to be at home for the first year of their child's life.
  • A division of the benefits that encourage men to be more involved in parenting in the first year of their child's life.
However, knowing that not every mother is eligible for benefits under the Employment Insurance Act, Women's Network PEI began research and consultation with Atlantic Canadian parents. Through this research, we have also determined that the most vulnerable in our society, including women with disabilities, Aboriginal women and single mothers, are the least likely to receive benefits. Since such inequity exists in the current method of providing maternity and parental benefits to families with new children, we recommend the exploration of a new system which adequately addresses the financial and other needs of families.

The Women's Network PEI is continuing its work to expand the research from the first phase of it's Parental Benefits Project. Phase II will take these research findings and analysis and will use them to develop policy options and recommendations towards a more equitable system, especially for the most vulnerable and marginalized in our society.

For more information, please contact:

Michelle Genge-Harris or Laurie Ann McCardle
phone: (902) 368-5040
fax: (902) 368-5039
e-mail: wnpei@wnpei.org


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