Item - 2019.PA5.2

The Board of Directors of the Toronto Parking Authority:

1.  Approved amendments to Toronto Parking Authority Policy Resolution 4-1 (Appendix 4) - Leave of Absence, outlined in Appendix A to the report (April 26, 2019) from the Acting President, Toronto Parking Authority, and directed staff to enact this Policy Resolution, as amended.

The Toronto Parking Authority (TPA) has established a range of Board-enacted policies which form the guiding principles and procedures by which it operates.

Changes were made effective December 3, 2017 to the Employment Standards Act (ESA) and to the Employment Insurance Act (EIA) which require a review and amendment to policy provisions relating to pregnancy and parental leave and their associated benefits. TPA Policy Resolution 4-1 (Appendix 4) - Leave of Absence was most recently reviewed by the Board at its meeting of April 24, 2017.

Under the ESA, amendments were made to provide an extended parental leave up to 61 weeks following pregnancy leave and up to 63 weeks for parents who do not take pregnancy leave. With the amendments to the ESA, Employment Insurance (EI) parental benefits can be received at a lower EI benefit rate over an extended period of time, for up to 61 weeks. Beginning on March 17, 2019, parents who agree to share EI parental benefits can receive an additional five weeks of standard EI parental benefits or eight weeks of extended EI parental benefits.

In order to comply with the legislative changes for pregnancy and parental leave under the ESA and extended EI parental benefits, we propose changes to TPA Policy Resolution 4-1 (Appendix 4) - Leave of Absence.