Is it time for the federal government to extend parental leave to 18 months?
Under a proposal revealed during last year’s federal election campaign, the Liberals promised to increase the time parents can take off but without boosting the overall amount of employment insurance benefits they can receive.
Critics say the plan wouldn’t do much to address the financial burdens faced by new families. At the same time, the extended leave wouldn’t help employees who don’t qualify for employment insurance benefits.
Read: Will 18-month parental leave reduce pressures on working families?
Proponents of the plan, however, cite the increased flexibility to accommodate a diverse range of family needs, as well as the extended period available for parents to find childcare before returning to the workplace.
The issue of parental leave is the subject of this week’s online poll. Should the government extend parental leave?
Read: Will 18-month parental leave become reality?
Last week’s poll asked about the prospects for Canada Pension Plan reform in light of this month’s meeting of finance ministers in Vancouver. The results suggest many people are cautiously pessimistic, with 50 per cent of respondents saying provincial resistance and differing opinions will likely make reaching a consensus difficult.
In contrast, 22 per cent were somewhat optimistic as respondents recognized the pressures for reform while also acknowledging the barriers. Only eight per cent were very confident about the prospects for reform.
Read: Finance ministers schedule meeting to discuss CPP reform
