Calgary MP pushing for extended bereavement leave for parents
Calgary Shepard Conservative MP Tom Kmiec, who suffered through the death of his newborn daughter is pushing to give parents more time off after the death of a child.
“I went through this. I noticed like I read all these very personal stories of people who have to return to work just a few days after the loss of their child and I felt like we need to do something” said Kmiec.
Kmiec lost his newborn daughter in August 2018, 39 days after she was born. Lucy-Rose died from a genetic disorder.
Kmiec has recently introduced a private member’s bill in the House of Commons to drastically expand bereavement leave from five days to eight weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for parents who have experienced a stillbirth, death of a child under 18 or the death of a disabled child in their care.
The current system under the Canada Labour Code provides three days of paid leave and two days of unpaid leave for parents following the death of a child.
The proposed changes under Bill C-307 would apply to federally regulated employees, which would include workers such as chartered banks, railway workers, the airline industry and military.
“I’ve heard from people, like dads especially who are treated very differently and in the current set of rules were expected to go back to work almost right away and they were just completely grief-stricken," Kmiec said.
“I think most employers will recognize that a person who's grieving at work is not a productive employee, they're not able to contribute to the workplace.”
Kmiec said he took six weeks off following his daughter's death. He said the current system doesn’t give enough time to grieve and make arrangements.
“I think eight weeks of unpaid job protected leave is the minimum thing that we could do to ensure that they have the time that they need to care for their family and to take care of their child’s kind of final estate so to speak, making sure that they’re remembered and then they can get back to living and taking care of their other family members,” said Kmiec.
STUDY SHOWED GLARING FAILURE
In 2018, a motion brought forward by Conservative MP Blake Richards launched a study of the issue. According to Kmiec’s office, the study showed a glaring failure of government programming to address the needs of parents who experience the loss of a child.
Kmiec’s bill has gone through the first reading. It likely won’t get debated before the summer recess. He said if there is an election this fall he hopes the proposal will be part of a campaign platform, even its not his own party.
SPARKING A CONVERSATION
The founder of a charity that provides support to families impacted by infant loss, says the bill is sparking a conversation that needs to happen.
“I don’t think people understand the actual impacts of loss and I don’t think they understand he prevalence of loss,” said Aditi Loveridge, founder of The Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support Centre.
Loveridge said in North America, one in four pregnancies end in loss. She said stillbirth rates have increased during COVID-19.
“It starts to reduce the stigma and starts to give grieving parents permission to really start to understand for themselves that this is a highly impactful experience and they do deserve that time to start to work towards their healing.”
Loveridge said the opportunity to have eight weeks off work, even if it's not for employees everywhere, would be a step in the right direction.
“Time doesn’t heal. But what time does is allows you the space to build those coping tools and build a community around you."
PILSC connects families to community and peer support groups among other supports.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
How quietly promised law changes in the 2024 federal budget could impact your day-to-day life
The 2024 federal budget released last week includes numerous big spending promises that have garnered headlines. But, tucked into the 416-page document are also series of smaller items, such as promising to amend the law regarding infant formula and to force banks to label government rebates, that you may have missed.
Which foods have the most plastics? You may be surprised
'How much plastic will you have for dinner, sir? And you, ma'am?' While that may seem like a line from a satirical skit on Saturday Night Live, research is showing it's much too close to reality.
opinion I've been a criminal attorney for decades. Here's what I think about the case against Trump
Joey Jackson, a criminal defence attorney and a legal analyst for CNN, outlines what he thinks about the criminal case against Donald Trump in the 'hush money trial.'
$3.8M home in B.C.'s Okanagan has steel shell for extra wildfire protection
A home in B.C.'s Okanagan that features a weathering steel shell designed to provide some protection against wildfires has been listed for sale at $3.8 million.
Diver pinned under water by an alligator figured he had choice. Lose his arm or lose his life
An alligator attacked a diver on April 15 as he surfaced from his dive, nearly out of air. His tank emptied with the gator's jaws crushing the arm he put up in defence.
Psychologist becomes first person in Peru to die by euthanasia after fighting in court for years
A Peruvian psychologist who suffered from an incurable disease that weakened her muscles and had her confined to her bed for several years, died by euthanasia, her lawyer said Monday, becoming the first person in the country to obtain the right to die with medical assistance.
Mystery surrounds giant custom Canucks jerseys worn by Lions Gate Bridge statues
The giant stone statues guarding the Lions Gate Bridge have been dressed in custom Vancouver Canucks jerseys as the NHL playoffs get underway.
Celebrity designer sentenced to 18 months in prison for smuggling crocodile handbags
A leading fashion designer whose accessories were used by celebrities from Britney Spears to the cast of the 'Sex and the City' TV series was sentenced Monday to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty in Miami federal court on charges of smuggling crocodile handbags from her native Colombia.
Wildfire leads to evacuation order issued for northeast Alberta community
An evacuation order was issued on Monday afternoon for homes in the area of Cold Lake First Nation.