Employers, labour groups push Liberals to rethink parental leave changes
OTTAWA — Two months into her second maternity leave, Karine Beauchamp would love to spend extra time at home with her son Maxime — but she can’t afford to.
Among her friends, the new mothers with financially well-to-do partners support the Liberal government’s proposal to extend maternity leave to 18 months from its current 12 months, allowing new parents to work periodically during that longer time frame — but without any increase in benefits.
Then there is a handful of new mothers who are breadwinners in the house and need to get back to work.
“We are already tight on mat leave. I can’t imagine getting less and getting less for another half a year,” Beauchamp said.