Since people seem to be interested in more information on Canadian maternity leaves, I thought I'd forward this information and comment provided by a Canadian woman, Bev Smith, who is President of a group who advocates on this topic:  Contact info below.
Janice Reynolds


I wanted to mention that I am part of a movement to get equal tax breaks to
all moms so that they can make the career-family juggle in any way that
suits their lifestyle. Unfortunately in Canada benefits only go to those who
use daycare and not even to grandma care or care by relatives, let alone pay
by home in home-based office or dad at home full-time.

We have found that moms often quit breastfeeding to return to paid work and
this may be because there are no provisions for doing it on most jobs and
the paid work day is not reduced in any way for nursing moms.

Recently our government increased maternity and parental benefits to a full
year at partial pay. However there are so many strings attached that few can
benefit. You have to had a certain number of paid hours of employment the
preceding year and you have to be an employee not self-employed or an
employer and you can share benefits with your spouse only if the woman
earned them and he wants some, not if he earned them and she wants some.

Beverley Smith, President,
Kids First Parent Association of Canada
PO Box 63053, 2604 Kensington Road NW
Calgary Alberta Canada T2N4S5

Kids First is a registered charity lobbying for valuing the care of
children.  Registered charity number  BN 88748 9069 RR0001
http://kidsfirst1.tripod.com
(403)283-2400 phone and fax

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