Alberta’s NDP Opposition leader, Rachel Notley, suggested it's time for women who have had an abortion to be allowed paid bereavement leave..Her announcement came on Twitter Thursday afternoon.."NDP Women’s Issues Critic @JanisIrwin sent this amendment to UCP Labour Minister Kaycee Madu in hopes of formally recognizing abortion as pregnancy loss and ensuring impacted Albertans are entitled to bereavement leave," Notley tweeted..Embedded in her tweet was a screenshot of the Bill 17 Notice of Amendment. The amendment states "miscarriage or stillbirth" would be substituted for "pregnancy loss.".Where previously a woman might receive bereavement leave for having suffered a spontaneous miscarriage or stillbirth, it would mean women who have elected to terminate a pregnancy would also be entitled to the paid time off..NDP Women’s Issues Critic Janice Irwin has been pushing the provincial government to change the bill..Bill 17, Labour Statutes Amendment Act, 2022, amends the section of the employment standards code that grants job-protected leave to employees dealing with the death of a family member..The bill in its current form — now in second reading — doesn’t specifically guarantee leave when a pregnancy is intentionally ended..Not everyone agrees it's fair to grant bereavement leave for an elective abortion arguing that if the mother made a conscious decision to terminate the pregnancy, she shouldn't get the leave..Twitter users were on both sides of the fence.."I’m going to have to disagree on this one. No judgment on those who choose to terminate their pregnancy — that’s a woman’s personal choice and right. However, it is a choice not a natural loss. Correct me if I’m out of line. My opinion of course … no disrespect," said MercedesCarreno.."It is a choice, but that does not mean it is an easy one. Even if it is an unwanted pregnancy, it can still be difficult both emotionally and physically. We also need to remember that abortion does not always equal unwanted pregnancy," tweeted Meagan MacDonald.."Abortion isn't pregnancy loss. You didn't lose something if you threw it away," said Varmin Way..If the bill passes through the Alberta Legislature, employers will have to grant bereavement leave to an employee and their spouse or common-law partner if they experienced a miscarriage or stillbirth, if they request the leave..The bill would also allow leave for those parents who lose a pregnancy as a result of a failed surrogacy..Commenting on the bill, Labour and Immigration Minister Kaycee Madu said the bill's wording needs to be adjusted.."As it currently stands, the bill talks about miscarriage and stillbirth," he said. ."And so we want that definition of pregnancy loss to be expanded to include termination for medical reasons as well as abortion," he added.
