We actually consider these changes to be negative, because they will create a situation in which some parents have access to longer leave, and most will not. We cannot see how a reduction in the benefit level under EI could be a positive development.
We also think that although the government seems to know what the problem is—lack of affordable child care for children under the age of 18 months—it has come up with the wrong solution. The solution is not to have parents on leave for the 18 months at lower pay; the solution is to actually create affordable child care for all, and not just for lower- and modest-income families but for families of all income levels. We know from the evidence that that's actually a better way to create choice for everybody, and it's actually a better way to create opportunities for lower- and modest-income households. We have a saying that if you have a child care program that is for the poor, it will make for a poor program. What we want is a universal child care program, because it will actually benefit everybody.
We think that in terms of EI changes, the priority of the government should be to make access easier. Right now, 40% of parents are excluded from the employment insurance maternity and parental special leave program. That is compared to the situation in Quebec, which has a much better program, and only 11% of parents are excluded. In Quebec, the benefit level is at 70% of replacement income. There is also a flexibility in Quebec, but the flexibility is actually to take less for longer, at 75% replacement income. That's a much better option.