By Canadian Press

O’Toole promises to hike benefits for parents grieving the death of a child

Sep 12, 2021 | 1:56 PM

VANCOUVER — Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole is pledging to boost financial support to grieving parents as the election campaign enters its final stretch.

At a hotel in downtown Vancouver today, O’Toole said he would extend employment insurance benefits to mothers and fathers for up to eight weeks following the death of a child.

He says he would also provide up to eight weeks of paid leave after a stillbirth and three days following a miscarriage.

Currently, EI parental benefits end immediately following a child’s death and there is no specific bereavement leave for miscarriages or stillbirths under federal labour law, though women can be eligible for sick leave in the event of complications.

O’Toole says thousands of Canadian parents struggle with the loss of a child every year, and that a Tory government would “end the stigma” and give them the time they need to mourn.

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At his rallies, O’Toole has been pitching a more “compassionate conservatism” as he tries to win over parents with a focus on affordability and health care ahead of the election on Sept. 20.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2021.

The Canadian Press

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version said O’Toole is promising to provide eight weeks of paid leave following a miscarriage or stillbirth. The promise is, in fact, for eight weeks of paid leave following a stillbirth but three days of leave after a miscarriage.