Parents of twins win a double parental leave

An Ottawa couple has successfully argued that parents of twins should be granted double paid parental leave, Canadian media said on Friday.

An Ottawa couple has successfully argued that parents of twins should be granted double paid parental leave, Canadian media said on Friday.

The father of twin girls born in April reportedly convinced the Employment Insurance Board of Referees that he and his wife should each be allowed 35 weeks of paid parental leave to care for their newborns.

The current rules treat multiple children as one.

While the board agreed with the new father, it also said the case does not set a precedent as each case before it is treated separately, said public broadcaster CBC.

Pundits said the ruling reflects a new reality in Canada: multiple births rose 35 percent between 1994 and 2003, largely due to increased access to fertility treatments.