10 March 2010
The budget speech (March 3, 2010) provides for amendments to the Employment Insurance Act concerning access to employment insurance parental and sickness benefits for military families.
“Chapter 3.4 – page 134
Access to Employment Insurance Parental and Sickness Benefits for Military Families
The Employment Insurance (EI) program provides parental benefits to individuals who are adopting a child or caring for a newborn. For Canadian Forces members whose parental leave is deferred or interrupted because of military requirements, the Government will extend the period in which they are eligible by another 52 weeks.
The EI program also provides sickness benefits to eligible individuals who are unable to work because of sickness, injury or quarantine. In order to support the families of Canadian Forces members, the Government will provide facilitated access to EI sickness benefits for eligible workers who have lost a loved one as a result of a service-related injury.”
We note that the amendments are not afforded to rotational Public Service employees in the same circumstances. We are perplexed by this and do not understand the rationale for not extending these amendments to include our members. We have written to the Minister Day pointing out our concern and asking for his intervention to include rotational public service employees as part of the amendments. To view the letter (pdf), click on the link below.