Legislative changes required for Bill C-32
Tara Kearsey
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Jan 08/01) - A federal law that improves maternity and parental benefits came into force Dec. 31, but it's not clear when - or if - all Northern workers will be able to take advantage of it.
A spokesperson for the Government of the Northwest Territories was unsure when or even if the necessary legal changes will be made.
"It's a very extensive process. It takes months," said Judy Langford, communications advisor for the GNWT justice department.
Doug Workman, president of the Nunavut Employees Union, said he is getting mixed messages from the government about making the federal plan mandatory.
The territories must amend their labour laws to make the new benefit package available.
Bill C-32 ammends the federal Employment Insurance Act to increase maternity and parental benefits to 50 weeks from 25 weeks.
Members of the Union of Northern Workers will receive the increased benefits under the collective agreement reached Dec. 22.
Other Northerners will only benefit if their employers agree or if the territorial government passes legislation amending the labour laws.
Workman said that before Christmas, Nunavut government officials in the labour relations department told Workman there would be no legislative changes.
"We think that's not acceptable and it's not right. Why can't we have what everybody else is getting in the rest of the country," he said.
"I would think we are trying to keep families in the North and certainly hire Northern people who are having families.
"It's a recognized need in Canada so I think what goes to one part of Canada should go to the rest, especially since this is a social issue and a human rights issue."
