Liberals eye easing access to maternity, parental leave in EI review, minister says

OTTAWA — Federal Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough says the government is looking at removing rules that make it difficult for some to get their full parental leave as part of a review of the employment insurance system. 

Qualtrough says the issue is particularly acute for new mothers because of how the decades-old system has been designed.

A worker who pays into the system has to work a specific number of hours to qualify for benefits, and do so for each new claim they make.

That means a new mother who has lost their job and files a claim for regular EI benefits has to work the necessary hours anew to get their full parental leave entitlements.