How Alberta Got Abortion Leave

<p>The UCP introduced the <a href='https://docs.assembly.ab.ca/LADDAR_files/docs/bills/bill/legislature_30/session_3/20220222_bill-017.pdf'>Labour Statues Amendment Act</a> in the Alberta legislature earlier this month (May 2022).</p> <p>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.</p> <p>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.”</p> <p>“(This legislation will cover) stillbirth, miscarriage and yes, abortion and termination for medical reasons.”</p> <p>We spoke to the lobbyist of Bill 17, <a href='https://olsen-biggs.com/our-people/'>Sarah Biggs</a>.</p> <p><a href='https://aditiloveridge.com/'>Aditi Loveridge</a> (she/her) is a certified coach, Certified Grief Recovery Specialist, mindfulness meditation teacher, writer, pregnancy loss advocate, owner of <a href='http://www.pregnancylosshealing.com/'>www.pregnancylosshealing.com</a> and Founder of <a href='https://pilsc.org/'>Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support Centre</a>.</p>