Conservatives turn their backs on pregnant women

Conservative MPs block bill to broaden access to EI for pregnant workers

OTTAWA — In a move that defied common sense, Conservatives voted against a bill to broaden access to preventive withdrawal for pregnant workers tabled by NDP Labour Critic Alexandre Boulerice (Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie).

Because of the Conservatives’ stubbornness, a pregnant woman who works for a federal company, like an air carrier, and who is placed on preventative leave by her doctor, doesn’t have the same wage protection as another woman in the same situation, but who works for a municipal bus service.

“Why are the Conservatives refusing to recognize this injustice? Why do they persist in creating two groups of workers with different rights? My bill was fair and would have assisted women and their families. If we want to encourage people to have children, we must provide them with the adequate living conditions to do it,” said Alexandre Boulerice.

The NDP considers it essential to protect the health and safety of pregnant women. That was the motivation behind Alexandre Boulerice’s bill.

Bitterly disappointed by the Conservatives’ refusal to support Bill C-307, the New Democrat MP invited them to explain themselves. “The government must tell us why women who work under the Canada Labour Code can’t be as well protected as women working under provincial jurisdiction. The workers deserve an explanation,” he concluded.