During my time of Service there was no such thing as parental leave for the birth of a child or adoption. This thankfully has changed over the years. However I was absolutely shocked to find that a person serving Jail or Prison time had and extension of time to gain paid parental leave. Whereas a military man or woman on duty for extended periods outside of Canada had no such entitlement. Thanks to Major Jim Duquette, Happened to bring up this inconsistency in the system with an MP campaigning prior to the last election:
CBC News
Maj. Jim Duquette was sent to the Golan Heights four days after son Jacob, centre, was born. Ann Duquette, right, says it was frustrating her husband was no longer eligible for parental leave when he returned a year later. (CBC)
Employment insurance rules will be revised for members of the Canadian Forces so more of them can take parental leave when they return from long tours of duty.
These changes to EI will give members of the military and their families a better chance to build stronger bonds with their children after they have made real sacrifices for our country, Pierre Poilievre, Conservative MP for Nepean-Carleton, told a news conference Monday in Ottawa.
Normally, parental leave of up to 35 weeks must end within 52 weeks after the birth or adoption of a child. However, military personnel cannot take parental leave while on deployment. An overseas tour typically lasts nine to 16 months.
The new rules, set to be introduced in Parliament this spring, will extend the deadline for military personnel, allowing them to end their parental leave up to two years after the birth or adoption of their child if they can't take it earlier because of a military requirement. Nepean-Carleton MP Pierre Poilievre says he was made aware of the parental-leave issue by Maj. Jim Duquette while campaigning during the last federal election. (CBC)
Poilievre said the new rules are the result of a conversation he had with Maj. Jim Duquette while campaigning door-to-door in Ottawa during the last federal election.
Duquette learned the hard way about the problems posed by current rules for military personnel after being deployed to the Golan Heights at the Israeli-Syrian border four days after the birth of his son Jacob in 2004.
He intended to take his parental leave when he returned a year later to Edmonton, where the family was living at the time.
The thought that he could take the leave when he got home helped us get through that year, his wife, Anne Duquette, recalled at the news conference. And then to find out that it was not even an option. It was frustrating.
Current EI rules allow parental leave benefits to start or continue more than a year after the birth or adoption of a child only under three exceptional circumstances if the parent is in jail or prison, in school or on a training course, or not working due to certain medical issues. In those cases, the parent can continue to take leave until two years after the child's birth or adoption.
Duquette said she and her husband, who is serving in Kabul, Afghanistan, are thrilled about the new proposed exception for military personnel.
It's just amazing how many people it will help, she said. It just proves that one individual speaking up can make a difference.
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2010/04/05/parental-leave-ei-military.html#ixzz0kGbYnSfK
Apparently it is not just Canadian Insurance companies that do not like paying out.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/manchester/8603391.stm
Also 2 great stories from a CBC reporter on the ground and in the air in Afghanistan.
Canadian Air Element working hard 24/7 Bravo Zulu Guys and gals.
Col. Christian Drouin, commander of Canada's Air Wing in Afghanistan. (Ousama Farag/CBC) Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2010/04/01/f-kandahar-dispatches-graham.html#ixzz0kFTDcoTd
The team: (L-R) Maj. Andre Wistaff, Cpl. Kevin Prior, Cpl. Chris Pearson, Cpl. Kevin 'Fester' Theriault, Master Cpl. Miguel Lourenco, Capt. Chris Tremblay, Capt. Colin 'Huddy' Hudson, Cpl. Daniel Goulet, Capt. Jeff Cliff. (Ousama Farag/CBC) Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2010/04/01/f-kandahar-dispatches-graham.html#ixzz0kFSIRSDH
http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2010/04/01/f-kandahar-dispatches-graham.html
Chocolat is the first dog that Pte Steve Purdy has trained
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8602945.stm
Last Reminder for WR3 this Saturday in Charlottetown, Come one Come all.
Wear red show your support for the runners and our Troops
Also a very important event at the Cenotaph in Charlottetown, please stop by and view the ceremony:
http://www.charlottetownlegion.ca/ for full information:
All Comrades Veterans across PEI are invited to meet at the Charlottetown Legion by 12:30 on Friday 9 April. We owe it to the memory of all of our World War I Veterans to join in this commemoration. Those who are able, will march to the Cenotaph with the Honour Guard and Legion Colour Party. Bus transportation will be provided for those unable to march.
Please Support Our Troops
Nil Sine Labore
Robby
