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Date: May 1, 2001
To: Deputy Ministers
Subject: Maternity and Parental Benefits for Executive Group and Excluded Employees of the Law Group
As Secretary of the Treasury Board, I am writing to inform you of important
changes which have just been made to the terms and conditions of employment for
members of the Executive Group and excluded employees of the Law Group.
Revised maternity and parental provisions have been approved which emphasize
the government's commitment to assist parents in balancing work and family
responsibilities. These changes support the government's intent to become an
exemplary employer.
Changes made to the Employment Insurance Act (EI) which came into
effect December 31, 2000, increase the length of the EI parental
benefit, from ten (10) weeks, to a period of thirty-five (35) weeks. The
amendments which have been made to the EX and excluded LA terms and conditions
provide these employees with an equivalent period of top-up, to ninety-three
(93) percent of the employee's salary i.e. an additional twenty-five
(25) weeks of top-up. These changes provide the noted groups with the same
maternity and parental leave allowance which has already been granted to most
bargaining units of the Public Service.
The changes to the maternity and parental provisions, which have been
approved and took effect March 22, 2001, are as follows:
- increase the length of time an employee is eligible to take parental leave
without pay from twenty-four (24) to thirty-seven weeks (37), ending no
later than fifty-two weeks (52) after the birth of the child or
acceptance of custody;
- amend the wording for maternity leave and parental leave, such that the
maternity or parental allowance payments are provided for each week the
employee receives a maternity or parental benefit under the Employment
Insurance Act;
- amend the leave without pay provisions, such that, employees will be
required to return to work for a period equal to the period of receipt of
maternity and/or parental allowance;
- limit the amount of parental leave without pay which can be taken by a
public service couple (if they choose to split the parental leave) to
thirty-seven weeks (37); and
- introduce a transitional provision which will permit employees who are on
parental leave without pay, or have requested a period of such leave without
pay but not commenced the leave, to avail themselves of the new
entitlements.
Changes to the Executive Group terms and conditions of employment mean that
other occupational groups, which follow those of the Executive Group, will also
be eligible for these new entitlements. Therefore, employees who are Deputy
Ministers, General Executives, Defence Scientists at levels 7A, 7B or 8, or
Governor-in-Council appointees also receive these new entitlements.
The changes are of key interest to any of your employees currently on
maternity or parental leave without pay. For this reason we request that the
changes be brought to these employees' attention immediately, so that they can
avail themselves of the enhanced entitlements before their scheduled return to
work.
Notice of these amendments along with a copy of the revised text will be sent
shortly to your Head of Human Resources.
Frank Claydon
Secretary of the Treasury Board
and Comptroller General of Canada
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