Conservative Blake Richards was the first to introduce and Federal Govt. has since legislated maternity benefits up to the 15 weeks to birthing parent if pregnancy is lost after the 20th week and before parental benefits have begun. This may not apply to self employed persons not on EI. Danielle Smith and UCP have increased this to six months for the Alberta birthing parent.
Research shows poor birthing parents often go back to work early because they can’t afford lesser maternity benefits.
What this imports to taxpayers like singles, those who choose or can’t bear children and the self employed is that they don’t grieve in the same way as birthing parents. If they suffer intense grief due to extreme circumstances like murder of family members, they have to go to work while grieving.
Where is the financial, human rights, ethical and moral justice? There is none because the wealthy always win at the expense of the poor.
Lin Gackle
Cochrane, AB
