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May 21, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MONTRÉAL, QUEBEC - The Honourable Pierre Pettigrew, Minister of Health, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister responsible for Official Languages, on behalf of the Honourable Joe Volpe, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, today signed an Agreement in Principle on Quebec's Parental Insurance Plan with representatives from the Government of Quebec. Discussions between the Government of Canada and the Government of Quebec have been ongoing since February 2004.
"The Government of Canada recognizes the importance of supporting parents in their efforts to balance work and family life," said Minister Pettigrew. "Quebec's proposed plan builds on the foundation of maternity and parental programming, which the federal government has built under the EI program over the past 30 years."
"The signing of this Agreement in Principle is very good news for Quebec families," said the Honourable Liza Frulla, minister of Social Development. "It is another solid example of the Government of Canada's willingness to work with the provinces as partners."
The Agreement contains a number of principles and provisions that will serve as the basis for a final agreement with Quebec. This Agreement shows that the Government of Canada and the Government of Quebec continue to cooperate in the best interests of all citizens.
In any agreement on establishing maternity and parental benefits plans, the Government of Canada is committed to ensuring that provinces and territories offer benefits that are at least equivalent to those provided under Employment Insurance (EI); inter-provincial mobility is assured; EI premiums of workers and employers in other provinces are not affected; effective service delivery will continue; and accountability and transparency are maintained through public reporting.
A final agreement concerning Quebec's plan will ensure that parents will be entitled to a benefit level at least equivalent to that to which they are entitled under the EI program. Provisions will also be made to facilitate inter-provincial mobility. For example, individuals who receive benefits under Quebec's plan would continue to receive their benefits under that plan even if they move to another province or territory.
The Government of Canada will ensure that the EI premiums of persons who do not reside in Quebec will not be affected by the conclusion of the final agreement and that the establishment of a provincial or territorial plan will be cost-neutral for Canada.
The Government of Canada and the Government of Quebec are committed to concluding a final agreement by February 1, 2005, that meets the principles in the Agreement as well as providing for the administrative, financial and other provisions under which Quebec's plan would be established. After a final agreement is reached, Quebec will offer maternity, paternity, parental and adoption benefits within the province.
Currently, maternity and parental benefits are available to Canadians for up to one year if they are eligible under the EI program.
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For more information:
Sébastien Théberge/Adèle Blanchard
Office of Minister Pettigrew
Minister of Health
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
Minister responsible for Official Languages
(613) 957-0200
Media Relations Office
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
(819) 994-5559
BACKGROUNDER
Maternity and Parental Benefits
Agreement in Principle between:
Government of Canada and Government of Quebec
The Employment Insurance (EI) program provides a solid foundation of maternity and parental programs across Canada. The Government of Canada spends $2.1 billion in benefits annually and reaches more than 200,000 parents.
Maternity and parental benefits are available to Canadians for up to one year if they are eligible under the EI program.
In 2001, the Quebec National Assembly passed an Act respecting parental insurance. This led to the development of the province's Parental Insurance Plan.
The Agreement in Principle between the Government of Canada and the Government of Quebec provides a framework for the negotiation of a final agreement on the establishment of Quebec's plan. This is consistent with the requirements of the EI Act.
In any agreement with the provinces and territories on the establishment of maternity and parental benefits plans, the Government of Canada is committed to ensuring that:
Provincial programs continue to build on a national approach that conforms to the following principles:
Benefits are at least equivalent to those provided under EI.
Inter-provincial mobility is assured. Parents who receive benefits under one plan will continue to receive their benefits under that plan if they move to another province or territory.
Agreements meet the ongoing need to ensure fiscal prudence:
The establishment of a provincial or territorial plan will be cost-neutral for the Government of Canada.
The EI premiums of workers and employers in other provinces and territories will not be affected.
Individuals cannot draw from both the federal and provincial or territorial plans at the same time for the same purpose.
Collaboration and sound management practices continue:
Canadians who will be eligible for both programs (for example: national sickness benefits and provincial maternity and parental benefits) will continue to receive effective services.
Appropriate information exchanges will take place between governments to ensure the effective implementation of the final agreement.
Prior notice will be given by a government if it is planning changes to programs.
Accountability and transparency are maintained through public reporting.
Timing of a Final Agreement
The Government of Canada and the Government of Quebec are committed to concluding a final agreement by February 1, 2005, that meets the principles in the Agreement as well as providing for the administrative, financial and other provisions under which Quebec's plan would be established.
