Courtesy of geminigreetings.com

No matter what you think, an Employment Insurance ruling said that parents of twins can each receive benefits for 35 weeks of parental leave. This is the first time that a ruling like this has been issued in Canada and this decision is specific to a couple who appealed. It does not automatically apply to all parents of twins, although you can be sure that parents of twins and other multiple births will be seeking the same decision. Prior to this landmark case, parents have had to share the 35 week parental leave and the maximum weekly benefit of $447.00.

Currently it is estimated that there are about 10,000 multiple births in Canada each year. However, not all couples of multiple births will qualify. One of the criteria is that you must be eligible for Employment Insurance which automatically disqualifies people who are self employed or unemployed. Multiple Births Canada has been lobbying the government since 2005 so that the parents of multiple births can each receive benefits for the 35 weeks of parental leave and this landmark case may have opened the door wide enough for that to happen in the not too distant future.

Do you agree with the ruling by the Employment Insurance Board? No one is denying that taking care of two and maybe more babies is difficult, but should we as taxpayers have to pay for it?