Twins may be double the joy and double the work. But for one Ottawa couple, they also now mean double parental benefits.
In a groundbreaking decision, a federal board ruled that Christian Martin and Paula Critchley, who had twin girls in April, can each receive Employment Insurance benefits for full parental leaves.
“I believe this issue to be one of fairness. It is not about multiple birth parents getting more benefits than parents of single births, but rather to get the equivalent treatment since there are more babies to care for,” Mr. Martin said in an e-mail. “Caring for two or more babies at once brings a lot of joy, but it is also very difficult, as I am sure most people can appreciate.”
Although the ruling by an Employment Insurance Board of Referees applies only to the couple, it could set a precedent for other parents of multiples who challenge rules that restrict new parents to a combined maximum of 35 weeks of EI benefits per pregnancy.
Lawyer Stephen Moreau said the three-member board's unanimous decision will have “significant persuasive effect” on other EI panels, although they will not be bound by its outcome.
“There's a certain respect owed to fellow boards who have grappled with this decision,” said Mr. Moreau, who represented Mr. Martin.
In light of the ruling, the national support group for parents of multiples is renewing calls for the federal government to change its benefits policy to allow parents of twins or higher order multiples to each receive EI for up to 35 weeks.
“It makes sense for two parents to each be bonding with each child,” said Gail Moore, chairwoman of Multiple Births Canada. “It's definitely much more complicated when there's more than one baby in the home.”
Due largely to fertility treatments, multiple births are soaring in Canada. Since 2005, Ms. Moore's organization has been pressuring Ottawa to provide greater benefits for parents of multiples as is the case in some European countries.
After a difficult pregnancy, Ms. Critchley gave birth on April 21 to identical twins Lucie and Athena, who were premature and underweight. Caring for them solo is “incredibly difficult,” Mr. Martin stated in evidence presented to the board of referees. Shortly after the girls were born, Ms. Critchley applied for 35 weeks of parental EI benefits to care for Athena and Mr. Martin applied for the same to care for Lucie.
Mr. Martin's claim was rejected. The Employment Insurance Commission advised him: “You have not proven that you are the parent that will be taking the 35 weeks of parental benefits for this birth. Your wife has applied for the 35 weeks of parental [leave] and you have stated you are agreeable to her being paid these benefits.”
In an appeal heard Sept. 11, Mr. Moreau successfully argued that the couple's EI benefits should not be restricted to one combined claim because the twins are the result of a single pregnancy. Both Mr. Martin, who is a researcher, and Ms. Critchley, an engineer, have been on parental leaves since the girls were born.
“Our family is doing well but it has been busy!” Mr. Martin said.
Under current EI rules, new parents can share up to 35 weeks of EI benefits, which are calculated based on salary to a maximum of $447 a week. To qualify, claimants must have worked 600 insured hours in the 52 weeks preceding their claim. In addition, mothers can receive 15 weeks of pregnancy leave after giving birth.
