Comments on: Maternity Leave Around the World

By: Karine

Karine — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 00:47:19 +0000

I would just like to add that in Québec, self employed and part time workers are entitled to the Régime d’assurance parental. As long as you paied your dues for it in your last income tax report.

By: kgirl

kgirl — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 01:14:33 +0000

As a Canadian who has taken advantage of her year-long maternity leaves twice now, I am thankful, thankful, thankful.

A few things to point out – there are employers that do ‘top up’ the gov’t pay, so that women get almost (or hit) 100% of their pay for the year. Alas, my employer is not one of them, but I’m happy for my friends whose are.

Also, one huge downfall to our system is that, if you are self-employed, or work part time, you get nothing. BOO.

By: StorkStories

StorkStories — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 00:40:39 +0000

Amber this is a fabulous collection of information! Wonderful resource! Great accomplishment for certain! Thanks for this. The US looks pretty sad… pretty sad indeed..

By: Erin

Erin — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:21:21 +0000

This is just one of the many things that make me wish I lived in Canada, rather than the US. Here, having a baby is something that you’re often punished for, both financially and professionally. Thank you for putting this together, it was a fascinating read!

By: Kelly@ Parenting Princesses

Kelly@ Parenting Princesses — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 04:14:59 +0000

Thanks for all the information. I’m always amazed at the lack of maternity care in the US and the women who feel lucky to scrape together 9 weeks of paid leave through leftover vacation time and such.

I’m grateful for our Canadian maternity leave although I didn’t get to take full advantage of it. Hopefully when I have a third child I will be able to take the full year off

By: Lady M

Lady M — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 03:47:03 +0000

Wow – that was a lot of work all summed up nicely. We do some things nicely in the US, but I’m afraid maternity leave just isn’t one of them.

By: Melodie

Melodie — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 00:38:42 +0000

Well isn’t this just the best little clip and save post ever (if you’re studying mat leave on a global scale or have friends in many different countries.) I really feel like I should print this out though. SO many great posts today. I’m on a stumbling high!

By: Abbie

Abbie — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 23:47:32 +0000

Thanks for all the info, Amber!

I’m currently making plans to pack up and move to Sweden.

By: Amber

Amber — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 20:38:29 +0000

I’m familiar with the Canadian baby bonus, but it’s quite different from Australia. Our Canadian baby bonus is paid out monthly to families with kids at home to offset the cost of raising children. It is means-tested and families receive different amounts depending on their income.

In Australia the baby bonus is paid only when a baby is born, and the sum is the same regardless of family income. (Unless you make too much to qualify altogether). Because of the fact that the baby bonus is paid on the birth of a baby, it is viewed as a de facto type of maternity pay by some Australians. This is why I mentioned it, and didn’t mention the Canadian scheme, since the Child Tax Benefit isn’t related to a new baby being born in particular.

Here is some info I found online:
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/bnfts/cctb/menu-eng.html
http://www.familyassist.gov.au/Internet/FAO/fao1.nsf/content/payments-maternity_payment-baby_bonus_after_1jan2009.htm

By: Nicole M

Nicole M — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 18:50:04 +0000

Without commenting on anything else (because I read the mat leave posts as you wrote them), I just have to laugh to see mat leave in Canada, and mat leave in Quebec!

Great information, as always =D