A family who have suffered the loss of their 11-month-old baby are struggling through red tape to claim four weeks of EI sick pay as the father was unable to work following the tragedy.
On May 13, 2022, Cedric Arnould and Yuu Ideguchi’s lives changed. In the morning, the parents went to their little girl Umi’s room as usual, but found her no longer responsive. Arriving quickly at the scene, the paramedics tried everything, but it was too late.
Photo provided by Cedric Arnould
Little Umi, who died in her sleep on the night of May 12-13, 2022 at the age of 11 months, suffocated in her blanket.
“It’s terrible! The worst ordeal of my life. His brother Tao [3 ans]She still asks where she is today,” says the father, touched.
About a month after the death of his daughter, the man of French descent, who immigrated to Quebec 15 years ago, is taking steps with the federal government to receive benefits.
“My employer Sidekick Interactive generously paid me a week’s sick leave. It’s HR [responsable des ressources humaines] who explained to me that I was entitled to state benefits,” says the Montreal resident.
administrative bureaucracy
Mr Arnould first filled out a form on the internet and attached a copy of the medical certificate justifying his absence from work.
Days pass and when the family man logs into his account, he sees that his request is still pending.
A few weeks later, he receives a letter with his code To his application on the Internet. A code he already had and a request he had already sent.
The grieving father begins to ask serious questions. “I need the money, so I call her,” he says.
He manages to get on the phone with an employee who informs him that information is missing from his file and he is not being compensated for his weeks not working.
In a crack of the system
“I was told, ‘Sir, you’ve run into a crack in the system and the deadlines are up.’ […] At no point did I receive an email, phone call, text message or message on the website asking for additional information.”
As suggested, Mr Arnould therefore decided to appeal the decision. As of this week, he’s been in contact with another agent.
Cedric Arnould tried several times to reach his Liberal Party of Canada MP, Marc Miller, but to no avail.
After months of lobbying, Mr. Miller’s office finally got in touch with Mr. Arnould this week.
The Journal also attempted to contact Rep. Marc Miller but received no response.
Service Canada, “a system that isn’t working properly”
MNA Louise Chabot, Bloc Québécois spokeswoman for labor and employment insurance, can’t believe another citizen is caught in the net of a failing system.
“This is totally inhumane,” said Thérèse-De Blainville MP about the Cedric Arnould case. Such waiting times are not normal. Unfortunately, this person was trapped in a system that isn’t working properly. »
“It’s Chaos”
Ms. Chabot doesn’t mince words when it comes to Service Canada, which among other things manages employment insurance files.
Archive photo
Louise Chabot
Member of Parliament
Block Quebecois
In her opinion, citizens should have access to an office close to where they live and agents ready to escort them.
“In my opinion, Service Canada is a mess. There’s a nasty hit to give […] Normally it shouldn’t be complicated, that’s the problem,” she says forcefully.
Document sent three times
For his part, Cedric Arnould regrets the general confusion at Service Canada.
For example, he had to send in his medical certificate three times.
“In June, in November by registered mail and the third time in mid-December to challenge the decision,” he denounces.
While he still hopes the case will be settled, the man admits the process has been very frustrating.
“I applied for sick leave for the first time after 15 years of contributions. The last time I claimed unemployment insurance was in 2013 because I was unemployed,” he says, unnerved.
Without commenting on Mr. Arnould’s specific case, the Bureau of Employment and Social Development Canada confirms that unemployment insurance sickness benefit temporarily replaces the earnings of an eligible worker who is unable to work due to illness, injury or quarantine or other proven health issue caused by a medical certificate.
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