Supporting parents and young families has always been a priority for the Government of Canada. That is why the Government will introduce the Employment Insurance parental sharing benefit.

“As we’ve seen in Quebec and in other jurisdictions that have implemented similar policies, this type of benefit has been proven to encourage a more balanced sharing of child care responsibilities. This new measure will help us break down barriers to gender equality by shifting cultural attitudes against men taking parental leave, and will help Canadians spend more time with their families.”

– The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development

“The introduction of the new five-week parental sharing benefit is welcome news for Canadian families. This additional leave will encourage all parents to be engaged in full-time caregiving for their infants, helping to create greater financial security for women, and stronger bonds between fathers or second parents and their babies. By encouraging a more equitable distribution of child care within the home, this new parental leave benefit gives families more flexible child care options and advances gender equality both at home and in the workplace.”

– The Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister of International Development and Minister for Women and Gender Equality

‎‎“I believe that with this benefit parents will be able to spend more quality time caring for their children as well as sharing the work of raising them. Ultimately, these changes will result in more women in our work force and stronger bonds between children and their parents.”

– Marwan Tabbara, Member of Parliament for Kitchener South–Hespeler

“We are so pleased to host the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, at our Grow Community Centre to make such an important announcement. Our vision at Langs is ‘Changed Lives, Healthy Communities’ because we know that investments that support parents and children strengthen families and the well‑being of communities across Canada.”

– Bill Davidson, Executive Director at Langs

• In 2016–17, women represented 85 percent of all parental benefit claims made, indicating that child care duties continue to fall heavily on mothers.

• In 2017, in large part due to the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan, 81 percent of spouses or partners of recent mothers in Quebec claimed or intended to claim parental benefits, compared to only 12 percent in the rest of Canada.

Related products

• Backgrounder: Parental sharing benefit

Associated links

• Budget 2018
• Employment Insurance improvements
• Employment Insurance – Information for employers

For media enquiries, please contact:

Valérie Glazer
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
819-654-5546

Media Relations Office
Employment and Social Development Canada
819-994-5559
media@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
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