Employment Insurance Act — E-5.6 345
345 The Act is amended by adding the following after section 22: Benefit for responsibilities related to child’s placement or arrival 22.1 (1) Despite section 18, but subject to this section, benefits are payable to a major attachment claimant for carrying out responsibilities related to (a) the placement with the claimant of one or more children for the purpose of adoption under the laws governing adoption in the province in which the claimant resides; or (b) the arrival of one or more new-born children of the claimant into the claimant’s care, in the case where the person who will be giving or gave birth to the child or children is not, or is not intended to be, a parent of the child or children. Weeks for which benefits may be paid (2) Subject to section 12, benefits under this section are payable for each week of unemployment in the period (a) that begins the earlier of (i) five weeks before the week in which the placement of the child or children with the claimant for the purpose of adoption is expected or the new-born child or children of the claimant are expected to arrive into the claimant’s care, and (ii) the week in which the child or children are actually placed with the claimant for the purpose of adoption or the new-born child or children of the claimant actually arrive into the claimant’s care; and (b) that ends 17 weeks after the week in which the child or children are actually placed with the claimant for the purpose of adoption or the new-born child or children of the claimant actually arrive into the claimant’s care. Limitation — delay of placement or arrival (3) If the placement or arrival of the child or children referred to in subsection (1) is delayed, the period referred to in subsection (2) must not, subject to any extension under subsection (4), exceed 52 weeks after the week in which the placement or arrival was expected. Extension of period — children in hospital (4) If the child or children referred to in subsection (1) are hospitalized during the period that begins the week referred to in subparagraph (2)(a)(ii) and that ends 17 weeks after that week, the period referred to in subsection (2) is extended by the number of weeks during which the child or children are hospitalized. Limitation — children in hospital (5) The extended period shall end no later than 52 weeks after the week referred to in subparagraph (2)(a)(ii). Limitation (6) If benefits are payable to a claimant for the reasons set out in this section and any allowances, money or other benefits are payable to the claimant for the same reasons under a provincial law, the benefits payable to the claimant under this Act are to be reduced or eliminated as prescribed. Application of section 18 (7) For the purposes of section 13, the provisions of section 18 do not apply to the week that immediately precedes the period described in subsection (2). Division of weeks of benefits (8) If two major attachment claimants each make a claim for benefits under this section — or if one major attachment claimant makes a claim for benefits under this section and an individual makes a claim for benefits under section 152.041 — in respect of the same child or children, the weeks of benefits payable under this section, under section 152.041 or under both those sections may be divided between them up to a maximum of 15. If they cannot agree, the weeks of benefits are to be divided in accordance with the prescribed rules. Maximum number of weeks that can be divided (9) For greater certainty, if, in respect of the same child or children, a major attachment claimant makes a claim for benefits under this section and an individual makes a claim for benefits under section 152.041, the total number of weeks of benefits payable under this section and section 152.041 that may be divided between them may not exceed 15. Deferral of waiting period (10) A major attachment claimant who makes a claim for benefits under this section may have their waiting period deferred unti