“Our government is helping Canadian families by supporting parents who have committed to adopting a child,” said Minister Finley. “By increasing the flexibility of EI parental benefits that reflect evolving adoption programs, we are putting the best interest of the child first, ensuring he or she is placed in a stable family environment as early as possible.”
In recognition that adoption programs vary by province and territory, the Government of Canada will now allow parents to be eligible for EI parental benefits as soon as they have taken the necessary steps to adopt the child in their care. This change brings the EI program in line with current adoption procedures.
"Given everything we know about children and attachment, the best model of service we can currently provide is foster-to-adopt," said Rod Potgieter, Executive Director, Family and Children's Services, St. Thomas and Eglin. “It is wonderful to see the model supported and encouraged by the federal government through parental leave benefits."
Parental benefits under the EI program are provided to parents who qualify to take time away from work to bond with their newborn or newly adopted child or children. A maximum of 35 weeks of parental benefits is available to biological or adoptive parents.
For more information on EI parental benefits, please visit the Service Canada site at:
http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/sc/ei/benefits/maternityparental.shtml
