Time to Attach—My Reason Why
A national campaign to add 15 weeks of Attachment Leave Employment Insurance Benefits for adoptive parents, kinship and customary caregivers.
Attachment leave is about giving children and youth more Time to Attach to improve the long-term outcomes for them and their families and complements the existing parental benefits of 35 weeks. Canada’s system does not measure up to the standards of many other countries, in terms of equality with biological parents compared to benefits for adoptive parents.
Most children adopted in Canada are over the age of 10 at the time of placement and many have a history of trauma or serious loss. Having their new parent or caregiver(s) at home longer, in the critical first year, gives them time to form attachments and begin processing their grief and loss. Currently the parental benefit system allocates a longer paid leave to biological parents (50 weeks) then to adoptive parents, kinship, and customary caregivers (35 weeks).
You can support families formed by adoption, kinship, and customary care for the right to equal parental leave.
1. Support Bill C-318: Equal Parental Leave for Families formed through Adoption
Bill C-318 creates parity in the parental benefits landscape through the creation of a new 15-week EI benefit for adoptive and intended parents. Join us in support now!
2. Write your member of Parliament
Email your Member of Parliament. Ask them support C-318 and let them know that equality in parental leave options is important to you.
Looking for an example of what to write? You can customize this template.
3. Share your reason why supporting bill C-318 is important
Record a video (30-45 seconds is best!)
Record an audio clip (30-45 seconds is best)
Write a blog (approx. 400 words)
4. Read community stories on Time to Attach
