Edmonton city council could adopt first-in-Canada parental leave plan

Edmonton's city council is one step closer to approving a first-in-Canada policy that would allow sittingcouncillorsto take up to six months of parental leave after the birth or adoption of a child.

"We want to remove every barrier for women seeking office," saidCoun.BevEsslingerTuesday. "It's not an option anymore that councils don't address it."

Under current rules, the mayor andcouncilare not permitted to miss more than eight consecutive weeks of council meetings, unless that absence is authorized by the rest of council.

Recently elected officials, such as Coun. Ed Gibbons, have used such approved absences due to health issues.

But the right toparental leave shouldn't be left to the discretion of colleagues, saidEsslinger.

'We want our councils to reflect our community'

7 years ago

Duration 0:38

Coun. Bev Esslinger took questions following Tuesday's executive committee's discussion about parental leave policies for city councillors.

"We want our councils to reflect our community. That's people of all ages, of all genders, of all nationalities. This is why Ibelieve enabling a piece of policy will encourage more [of that]."

The proposed policy would allow councillorsto take 10 weeks off from workwith full pay to be covered by the city. Councillorsdon't pay into the federal employment insurance program, and are therefore not eligible to collectEI.

The new policy proposes elected officials could alsotake up to another 16 weeks off from work, or work part-time from home, with the remuneration to be determined based on their work.

Councillors would be responsible for determining who would coverconstituent concerns while absent.

Mat leave in provincial spotlight

The issue of parental leave for politicians has been in the spotlight in Alberta since Status of Women Minister StephanieMcLeanbecame the first woman to have a child while holding a seat in the legislature, in 2016.

The NDP has promised legislation to permitMLAsto take parental leave, but it still hasn't been finalized.

Since then, associate health minister Brandy Payne has also given birth as an MLA, and Justice Minister Kathleen Ganley is expecting to give birth later this year.

In a statement, Payne saidit's time to see "similar gains at the local and school board levels" when it comes to gender parity in government.

• Maternity leave for MLAs to be introduced by Alberta government
• Family friendly changes coming to Alberta legislature

Former city councillor Kim Krushell said that even with such a policy in place, there are still struggles for people with families because the job's demands on time are so great.

"Even when you're missing, you're always on as a politician, wherever you are," Krushelltold CBC's Radio Active on Tuesday afternoon.

"Even when I took vacations, I often took calls. Each individual councillorwill make their decision based on what makes sense for them at the time. A paternity option for councillors is the right thing to do and Idon't think it will be abused."

Policy will take time

The policy discussion comes two months before the next municipal election, and any changes that happen could affect the tenure of future councillors.

Esslingeris currently the only woman on the 13-personcouncil. Groups such as Equal Voice have been pushing for more women to run in this election.

"It was definitely something I thought about," said Samantha Hees, a council candidate for Ward 10, about what it might mean to have a child while atcity hall.

"It is a 24-7, year-round job that really does become your life, and Idon't think the previous leave guidelines were appropriate for the modern day, where people do want to take parental leave."

Keren Tang is running for council in Ward 11. She is currently on maternity leave, with her 11-month-old child.

"For me, yes it's nice to have a perk like this," she said about the proposed policy. "But I'm more interested in how we can create a cultural shift so we have a more child-friendly environment within politics to encourage young women to stay and not scare them off."

The draft policy was unanimously endorsed by executive committee on Tuesday, and is being forwarded to city council for approval.

But theprovince mustfinalize its review of the Municipal Government Act beforeEdmonton city council canpass a new bylaw to authorize a parental leave.