An Airdrie woman has filed a human rights complaint, claiming her pregnancy is the reason she has not been able to collect the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB).
Kristen Aldridge was laid off from her teaching assistant job at a daycare in Airdrie in mid-March, after the Alberta government mandated closures due to the spread of COVID-19. After being laid off, Aldridge said, she and her co-workers applied for employment insurance (EI) and started collecting roughly $1,500 a month.
After the federal government rolled out CERB March 25, however, Aldridge said her co-workers were transferred to that program and began receiving $2,000 per month.
A stipulation of CERB is that someone receiving maternity benefits could not also receive the benefit at the same time. While Aldridge will not to go on maternity leave until later this summer, she was still deemed ineligible.
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“Because of this, I am now shorted out almost $500 a month compared to what everyone else is getting,“ Aldridge said.
Aldridge said she called EI April 22 to try to sort out the situation, and spent several hours on the phone.
“I explained the story to the lady I was talking to, and she said since I’m pregnant, I’m not allowed to get CERB money, because I’ll be going on materinty leave in August,“ she said. “When I tried to explain to her that the government stated anyone would qualify – even pregnant woman – who had worked enough hours, made a certain amount of money and had been laid off because of the virus, she got nasty with me, raised her voice, and made it clear I wouldn’t be getting the money because I was pregnant.“
It was after that phone call that Aldridge decided to file a complaint through the Alberta Human Rights Commission, claiming the scenario was an example of discrimination against pregnant women.
“It’s just pushing pregnant women aside and we’re getting lost in the cracks,“ she said, adding she also reached out to Blake Richards, MP for Banff-Airdrie. “I know it’s happening to pregnant women all over Canada, not just myself. I’ve read other articles and news stories about this, and that’s why I want to get my story out – for anyone else going through the same thing.“
With her baby not due until August, Aldridge said she doesn’t see why she shouldn’t be able to collect the $2,000 offered through CERB until then.
“I’m aware I’ll be getting less money on mat leave,“ she said. “But I was prepared for that. What I wasn’t prepared for was to have this happen four or five months before. And then, something is rolled out that is worth $500 more [than EI] and then I’m not allowed to have it, when everyone else is.“
On May 5, Aldridge said she had spoken to EI again, and was told if she has to stay on regular EI, the hours will be taken off of her parental leave when she goes on maternity leave.
The federal government’s employment minister, Carla Qualtrough, said April 24 that pregnancy does not impact eligibility for CERB – even if expecting parents anticipate starting maternity benefits soon – and that any “systemic challenges“ with the rollout of the CERB would be addressed.
In a statment to Airdrie City View, Employment and Social Development Canada (EDSC) said pregnant women who should have been receiving CERB would have their claims converted retroactively to CERB as of May 8.
“Those who had been receiving less than the $500 per week will receive a payment to get them up to the $500,“ EDSC said. “Those who had been receiving more than the $500 per week will not have any money clawed back, but will receive the $500 per week flat rate from the time their claim is converted going forward.“
According to EDSC, the weeks during which pregnant women collect CERB will not impact the number of weeks of maternity and parental benefits they are set to receive. The maximum number of weeks of EI, maternity and standard parental benefits any claimant can receive is 50 weeks, with the option of a longer period for claimants who choose the extended parental benefits.
“Whereas EI regular benefits count towards this 50-week maximum, CERB benefits do not,“ the statement read. “In all cases, maternity and parental benefits will be paid at the rate established under EI rules.“
Scott Strasser, AirdrieToday.com
Follow me on Twitter @scottstrasser19
