It's been a bittersweet time for Pascale Gibeau. An initiative that she advocated for has finally become a reality — but it won't benefit her.
However, as she speaks on the phone with The Chief — while holding her 10-week-old daughter, Chloe — she said that she's happy that others will benefit from a movement she helped lead.
"It makes a big difference," said Gibeau.
"Funny enough, it doesn't change anything for me, but I know a lot of my friends who just had babies who went from having zero revenue to $2,000 a month."
In April, as multiple COVID-19 relief initiatives were being unveiled, Gibeau was one of several Squamish women who voiced concern that pregnant women were getting left behind.
The Canada Emergency Response Benefit, or CERB, which gave $2,000 of relief per month for up to six months, didn't offer the same coverage of EI maternity benefits, which provides help for about a year, allowing women to have take leave for their newborns.
The advocates said pregnant women who suddenly lost work due to the pandemic — especially seasonal workers, students and part-time employees — would find it almost impossible to meet the 600-hour criteria needed to become eligible for EI maternity and parental benefits.
Gibeau and the others called for the government to change the eligibility criteria.
They sent a letter to local MP Patrick Weiler, and Gibeau advocated for her cause in a story covered by The Chief. National news attention followed.
Months later, the government listened.
Weiler gave Gibeau a call in the middle of August to tell her that changes were being made.
"At first I was totally surprised, I guess. I didn't understand clearly his name when he called, and usually these days, when we get a call, it's like telemarketers or something, so I was not super friendly at first. And then when I realized who he was, I was like, 'Oh jeez, OK — oops.'" Guibeau said with a chuckle.
"It was great that he called. That was definitely appreciated."
As of Sept. 27, temporary changes to the EI maternity and parental program have been enacted as a result of COVID-19. They will be in effect for one year.
Under these terms, only 120 hours are needed to qualify for benefits. People qualifying for maternity and parental benefits will receive at least $500 a week before taxes.
Gibeau won't be able to qualify. She ended up accessing self-employment EI before the new changes went into effect, which she said now disqualifies her for the newly-revamped EI maternity and parental benefits.
She said she's collecting less money than what she might have received under the new program. However, she's looking on the bright side.
"I'm happy that at least the work I did will help a lot of women that I know and that deserve the money too, so that's a good outcome," she said.
The irony of the result was not lost on her, but Gibeau has kept an upbeat attitude about it.
"It's too bad, but that's life, I guess," she said. "You know, like, I tried, and I'm happy that something worked, you know. And the fact that I can see its effect on lives around me is nice validation that it's important to pitch in and try."
After taking time off to be with her daughter, who was born on July 24, Gibeau said she'll be returning to work as a biologist on a part-time basis in the coming weeks.
