UCP MLAs confirm Alberta bereavement leave would cover abortion

Madu and Frey said the Labour Statues Amendment Act would expand access to bereavement leave to employees whose pregnancy ends "in anything other than a live birth."

The UCP introduced the Labour Statues Amendment Act in the Alberta legislature Tuesday.

As originally proposed, Bill 17 would amend the Employment Standards Code to expand access to bereavement leave to employees who experience a miscarriage or stillbirth. Any employee who would have been a parent — including biological parents, adoptive parents and surrogates — would be eligible for bereavement leave.

But when it was initially announced in April, the UCP didn’t make it clear if those accessing abortion or termination for medical reasons would be eligible for the bereavement leave.

On Tuesday, Labour Minister Kaycee Madu introduced an amendment to change the wording. It proposed the words “miscarriage” and “stillbirth” be replaced with “any pregnancy that ends in a result other than a live birth.”

“(This legislation will cover) stillbirth, miscarriage and yes, abortion and termination for medical reasons.”

Several Opposition NDP members pointedly asked why the words “abortion” and “termination for medical reasons” were not included in the proposed amendment for clarity.

The NDP said that without a specific mention, some women could be in the cruel position of having to litigate to gain that right while grieving their loss.

After numerous questions from NDP members in committee Tuesday, UCP MLA Michaela Frey said “the intention (of the amendment) certainly is to cover abortion and termination for medical reasons.”