FFAW welcomes new parental leave rules

FFAW welcomes new parental leave rules that come into effect on January 1 for fishing workers in Eastern Canada.

License holders can have a substitute manage their fishing business when they are pregnant or new parents, so they can continue to earn a living while caring for their little ones.

Federal Fisheries Minister Diane Lebouthillier says Canadians shouldn’t have to choose between starting a family and having a job. That’s especially true for those who work in Canada’s fishing industry, where it’s as much about culture and lifestyle as it is about a job, she says.

FFAW President Dwan Street says current rules allow a company’s captain, male or female, to have a 120-day designation. The changes, which come into effect on January 1, will extend full parental benefits to the industry in Eastern Canada.