About 30,000 Canadian migrant workers will no longer be covered by special parental benefits. The workers, who contribute to the Employment Insurance system will not be able to take leave and collect some percentage of their wages while caring for newborns or sick children. The program, will only cover those authorized to work full time. Migrant workers have never been fully covered, but received some benefits. Opponents say that the move is an attack on workers' rights, while the Ottawa government says that the changes are consistent with the purpose of teh program. The government introduced regulations earlier this year to allow corporations to pay migrant workers less.
See "Seasonal migrant workers stripped of parental benefits", Nicholas Keung, Toronto Star, December 10, 2012