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So if I am pregnant in the future, I could refuse to go to work for fear of endangering my baby and still get paid?

• Ms. Nicole Demers (Laval, BQ): Mr. Speaker, yesterday, in answering a question on preventive withdrawal, the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development said that it is important to her government to treat men and women equally. The minister could start by ensuring that female workers in Quebec are all treated the same way. Does the minister plan to implement a preventive withdrawal program for female workers in Quebec who work under the Canada Labour Code?
• Hon. Rona Ambrose (Minister of Labour, CPC): Mr. Speaker, the member is spreading erroneous and false information about the rights of pregnant women who are in the federal jurisdiction workforce. The reality and the truth of the matter is that if a woman at any time feels that her health and safety or the health and safety of her fetus is at risk due to any health issue, including the H1N1 virus, she has the right, under the law, to refuse to go to work and continue to be paid.
• Ms. Nicole Demers (Laval, BQ): Mr. Speaker, the minister is missing the point. The most shocking thing about this is that, under the Canada Labour Code, Quebec companies already have to provide their employees with CSST coverage for workplace accidents. Why refuse to do the same for pregnant women working in Quebec who are calling for preventive withdrawal?
• Hon. Rona Ambrose (Minister of Labour, CPC): Again, Mr. Speaker, it is important for all women who work in the federal jurisdiction, particularly pregnant women who are concerned about their own health and safety and the health and safety of their fetuses, to know that they do have rights. If they feel in any way any risk to their safety or the safety of their fetuses, they are able to discontinue work. They can refuse to work and will continue to be paid.
• Source: 40th PARLIAMENT, 2nd SESSION, EDITED HANSARD • NUMBER 087, Wednesday, September 30, 2009