Quebec conundrum
Crazy in Quebec
Credits: QMI AGENCY
Quebec parents are more likely than other Canadians to take time off work after having a baby, and they take longer leaves.
According to the latest figures from Statistics Canada, 90% of working mothers Canada-wide took a 44-week maternity leave after giving birth or adopting a child. In Quebec, that jumped to 99% of new moms taking time off for 48 weeks.
Working dads, too, were more likely to take paternity leaves in Quebec. Nationally, 26% of fathers took an average of 2.4 weeks off. In Quebec, 76% of fathers took leaves lasting an average of three weeks longer.
Outside the province, paid leaves fall under the Canada Employment Insurance Program, which allows for 15 weeks of maternity benefits and 35 weeks of parental benefits that can be shared between parents.
The Quebec Parental Insurance Plan offers a basic plan that includes 18 weeks of maternity, five weeks of paternity and 32 weeks of shared parental benefits.
Both these programs can be topped up by benefits offered by employers.
"These variations may reflect differences in legislated leave provisions between Quebec and the rest of Canada, especially the non-transferable paternity leave which is not available to fathers outside Quebec," said Statistics Canada.
Overall, self-employed Canadians were less likely to take time off, while mothers with postpartum depression look longer than average leaves.
Fathers took longer leaves when their babies had special medical needs.
"A number of factors, including socio-economic and child and maternal health characteristics, were associated with whether mothers and fathers took leave and with the length of leave," said Statistics Canada.
The figures are based on a 2010-2011 survey done with the parents of 10,810 children, aged one to nine, who reside in the country's provinces.
According to the latest figures from Statistics Canada, 90% of working mothers Canada-wide took a 44-week maternity leave after giving birth or adopting a child. In Quebec, that jumped to 99% of new moms taking time off for 48 weeks.
Working dads, too, were more likely to take paternity leaves in Quebec. Nationally, 26% of fathers took an average of 2.4 weeks off. In Quebec, 76% of fathers took leaves lasting an average of three weeks longer.
Outside the province, paid leaves fall under the Canada Employment Insurance Program, which allows for 15 weeks of maternity benefits and 35 weeks of parental benefits that can be shared between parents.
The Quebec Parental Insurance Plan offers a basic plan that includes 18 weeks of maternity, five weeks of paternity and 32 weeks of shared parental benefits.
Both these programs can be topped up by benefits offered by employers.
"These variations may reflect differences in legislated leave provisions between Quebec and the rest of Canada, especially the non-transferable paternity leave which is not available to fathers outside Quebec," said Statistics Canada.
Overall, self-employed Canadians were less likely to take time off, while mothers with postpartum depression look longer than average leaves.
Fathers took longer leaves when their babies had special medical needs.
"A number of factors, including socio-economic and child and maternal health characteristics, were associated with whether mothers and fathers took leave and with the length of leave," said Statistics Canada.
The figures are based on a 2010-2011 survey done with the parents of 10,810 children, aged one to nine, who reside in the country's provinces.
