Taking a Parental Leave – Potential Options and Cross-Jurisdictional Improvements

  • 11 novembre 2019
  • Deepa Tailor, member-at-large

Taking a parental leave as a practicing lawyer is challenging, both emotionally and financially. My aim with this article is to highlight potential options for lawyers taking a parental leave.  I also hope to share a comparison of how parental leave programs for lawyers vary between jurisdictions.

Government Assistance

Provincial Parental Insurance Plan (PPIP)

The Provincial Parental Insurance Plan is a tax deduction that was aimed at helping parents in Canada to spend a year at home following the birth or adoption of a child. The PPIP is administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and can be accessed by all taxpaying parents (who have a child either by birth or adoption), regardless of marital status or sexual orientation.

The PPIP is accessible by all Canadians. Canadians also have access to Maternity and Parental Employment Insurance (EI) or the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) for residents of Quebec. The plans are in place for the same reasons but have differing rules, eligibility criteria, regulations and tax implications.

Employment Insurance (EI)

The Employment Insurance (EI) program offers temporary financial assistance to eligible Canadians who meet the criteria. This aid comprises providing maternity as well as parental benefits.