The government of Canada has announced a new maternity and parental leave policy for fishers off Canada's Atlantic coast.
“Fishing holds immense social, cultural, and spiritual importance for Canadians. As a mother and grandmother, I’m proud to implement a new maternity and parental leave system into our fisheries,” Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard Diane Lebouthillier said in a statement.
Under the new policy, license-holding fishers will be able to request a substitute to run their fishing business during a pregnancy or after the birth of a child, allowing them to continue making money while taking time with their family.
The plan is similar to what is allowed under employment insurance in Canada. The process will work the same as Canada’s existing Medical Substitute Operator authorizations, but the time a substitute works in place of someone on maternal or parental leave will not count toward Canada’s five-year maximum for using Medical Substitute Operators.
The new policy will go into effect 1 January 2025.
“This is a big step forward in prioritizing work-life balance in the fishing industry and encouraging a new generation to join the industry,” Lebouthillier said. “I look forward to continuing to work with Canadians to find ways to support current fish harvesters and grow the future generations of the industry in 2025.”
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) originally engaged with Atlantic harvesters and industry stakeholders in 2023, gathering feedback on how the government can better support license holders and encourage new entrants into the industry.
