Status of Women committee  That's not data that we have, but that is certainly one of the things that make their way into our thinking, that families would be making the decision in terms of who would provide care on a financial basis. If that is a household where a women is earning less than her partner, she may be the one to provide care because it's less of a hit to the family's income.

Status of Women committee  In terms of top-ups, that's something that would be in the hands of the employers. To my knowledge, those would typically be available to men and women.

Status of Women committee  Thanks for the question. This does relate to an ongoing case that's before the court, so I can't speak to that class action in particular. I can speak to the current situation and note that in 2013, in fact, the rules of the employment insurance program were changed. It is possible now for a man or a women receiving parental benefits to interrupt those parental benefits, switch to sickness benefits, and subsequently return to their parental benefits, if needed.

Status of Women committee  There has not been a large increase in men taking parental benefits over that period of time. We can certainly go back to the Statistics Canada data, but I think it has been a slow uptick. To build a bit further on your question, it's not just a matter of the government programs, but also the kind of supports that are provided in the workplace, and sometimes supplementary payments that may or may not be provided by employers.

Status of Women committee  That's about right.

Status of Women committee  I think what I can do first is to speak about what we know from the EI program specifically and the use of that program and parental benefits by men and women. Then I can speak to some of the academic research we are aware of that helps to inform our policy development. In terms of taking a look at parental benefits, which are of course available to men and women, they continue to be used predominantly by women.

Status of Women committee  Right now with the program, of course, it is up to parents to decide how they'd like to share those benefits. What we know from some of the academic research is that it tends to require additional incentives to get men to take parental benefits at an increased rate. This research has been coming from some of the academics, including right here in this country.

Status of Women committee  Thank you, Chair, and good morning to all the members of the committee. I am pleased to have the opportunity today to give you an overview of the employment insurance program and the way in which it supports the economic security of women. Employment insurance, EI, is a foundational program that supports millions of working Canadians every year through life transitions.