Thread by @MsFritzzle, There's something that's been missing from EVERY conversation that the Canadian government [...]

There& #39;s something that& #39;s been missing from EVERY conversation that the Canadian government has been having about making EI/CERB claims due to COVID-19-related layoffs:

What happens if you& #39;re pregnant and need to go on maternity/parental leave in the next few months? 1/

I am due with my first at the end of August. I have also been temporarily laid off work for 9 days.

I have intentionally NOT applied for Employment Insurance yet. Canada& #39;s mat leave system operates through EI. And you have to work at least 600 hours between any two EI claims. 2/

So, some back-of-the-napkin math:

I& #39;ll be off work until at least April 7, but potentially longer if things aren& #39;t looking up by then. If I start maternity leave about a week before my due date, I& #39;ll be off starting August 24. I work 36 hours per week. 3/

If my layoff continues past April 27, OR I have to stop working early due to unforeseen health issues (let& #39;s hope not, but you never know), I WILL NOT have the time needed to work 600 hours between a COVID-19-related claim, and my maternity leave claim.

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🤷‍♀️" title="Woman shrugging" aria-label="Emoji: Woman shrugging"> 4/

My theory is: my mat leave HAS to last longer than we& #39;ll all be home because of the pandemic (oh god, please don& #39;t let this go on for an entire year). So it makes & #39;sense& #39; to sacrifice 2 weeks, or even 2 months, worth of EI now, if it means I get my full 12 months of EI later. 5/

But I& #39;m so lucky. My husband is still working full-time (from home), and we& #39;re gonna do alright for money, even if I& #39;m not bringing in any income for a few weeks and I can& #39;t make an EI claim.

But not everyone has that buffer. Not everyone still has a spouse who& #39;s working. 6/

I called and emailed my local MP this morning ( @RajSaini4KitCen), and his office wasn& #39;t able to give me any answers or direction.

How am I supposed to plan for my future, and the future of this kid, when no one can tell me what my options are? 7/

(Note: my MP& #39;s office has been SO quick about responding to my calls/emails and acknowledging the issue, and I know that they& #39;ll keep me posted as soon as they have information. But they don& #39;t have it NOW, which sounds like nobody higher up thinks this is important, yet). 8/

Obviously, I& #39;m not the only pregnant person in this country. So many people are stressing out with me.

I am asking the Canadian government and @JustinTrudeau to guide us on how to apply for assistance now, so that we do not unintentionally sacrifice our parental leaves later. 9/

Please, contact your MPs and ask them to push for answers on how EI claims made now will affect maternity/parental leave in the near future.

I& #39;m also reaching out now to @FinanceCanada, and my other local MPs: @BardishKW, @TimLouisKitCon, @_BryanMay and @marwantabbaramp. /10

This is a crazy enough time as it is. The last thing we need is to heap additional stress and financial uncertainty on people who are expecting a child within the next few months.

None of us need the extra stress right now, I PROMISE. 11/11

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