A Hamilton, Ont., mother whose job as a hairstylist was on hold due to pandemic lockdowns is calling for changes to the federal parental leave program after she was excluded from collecting benefits due to not working enough hours.
Melissa Debicki was on employment insurance (EI) between December 2020 and last June, except for six weeks in February and March when salons were briefly allowed to open. She gave birth to her son Theo in June, and her initial EI claim, which encompassed maternity leave and part of her parental leave benefits, expired in December.Â
Debicki said Service Canada told her to start
