Today I am bringing back Mat Leave Monday to talk about parental leave and parents of multiples in Canada. I have two children myself, but they were born 3 1/2 years apart. Parents of twins (or more) have my total respect – I can only imagine what it would be like to have more than one newborn to care for.
Multiple Births Canada holds their annual National Multiple Births Awareness Day on May 28. It’s a day for raising awareness of the unique issues faced by multiple-birth children and their families. The date chosen was the birth date of the Dionne quintuplets, who helped Canadians to understand the challenges faced by our multiple-birth community. Rather sadly so, as the choice wasn’t made freely by either the quintuplets or their family.
The Dionne Quintuplets
Photo credit: Statistics Canada, Canada Year Book Historical Collection
For 2010, the theme for National Multiple Births Awareness Day is:
“Canada’s EI Parental Leave must reflect the needs of multiple-birth infants.”
The maternity and parental leave laws in Canada do not allow any special consideration for parents of multiple-birth infants. Just like any other parents, the birth mother is eligible for 15 weeks of paid maternity benefits through EI, and both parents are eligible to share 35 weeks of paid parental benefits. Last year one couple, the parents of twins, challenged this rule. They argued that the mother should be eligible to claim parental leave to care for one child, and the father should be eligible to claim parental leave to care for the other child. The Employment Insurance board of referees agreed, but so far the laws have not changed, and other parents of twins would have to go to similar lengths to qualify for benefits.
Canada’s approach to maternity and parental leave for multiple births is not universal. Countries such as France, Japan, Portugal, Finland and Sweden offer extended benefits to parents of twins or higher-order multiples. And it sort of makes sense. I’ve had two children and I received 2 years of paid leave. If my neighbour had two children at the same time, she would only be eligible to receive half of that. As well, twin and super-twin pregnancies often face greater challenges, and it’s more common for babies to be born prematurely and require additional care. And no one can doubt that multiple-birth parents face a much greater adjustment, and require far more help.
So, what is happening on Multiple Births Awareness Day? Here is some information, taken from Multiple Births Canada’s website:
- A rally on the lawn of Parliament Hill and local rallies in front of MP’s offices on Friday, May 28
- A call for expectant parents of multiples to both apply for EI Parental Leave
- A call for all supporters to send a letter to Human Resources and Social Development Canada
If you want to know more, or would like to get involved yourself, check out the event page.
We are very fortunate to have access to the maternity and parental benefits that we receive here in Canada. However, we don’t always do the best job of recognizing and providing for special cases. Multiple births are one example. It is my hope that, through campaigns like this one, that will change.
You know, it’s funny… I had gotten into the habit of thinking that we have it so damn good in Canada that we shouldn’t complain. But then I heard this story back when the parents won their court battle, and realized that *I* (as a parent of a singleton) have it good, but that doesn’t mean that everyone does! Once I thought about what it would be like to have multiples (given how all-consuming having one little boy can be!), it seemed like just common sense to allow both parents to take the full 35 weeks of leave.
Thank you for bringing this subject up, even though you’re not a parent of multiples. We too often only think of our own situations, but how easy would it have been for any of us to be in that same boat! (Or even scarier, that still could *be* me, since I’m sure we’ll be pregnant again soon!)
I completely agree that parents of multiples should get more time off – I can’t even imagine being the mother of more than one baby with the thought of work hanging over my head 12 wks in the distance (the average time parents take in the US). Kieran was in the NICU only 5 days, and I was calling my work the next week asking for more time (I was only supposed to take 10 wks, but we see how that turned out
).
.-= Dionna @ Code Name: Mama´s last post ..Are You Calling Me a Liar? =-.
I agree parents with multiples need more time off AND that both parents should be able to take that full year BUT I know how difficult it was some months to make ends meet on one full salary and one EI salary…could parents with multiple babies AFFORD to have both parents on EI?
Canada’s benefits for maternity leave and parental leave are great but I’d like to see the payment % go up depending on how much you are making (no caps once you hit a certain amount). Typically the average person contributes to EI their entire working life and possibly will NEVER use that so if you do unfortunately have to access EI I think you should get more.
.-= Carrie´s last post ..Lions and Tigers and Bears…OH MY! =-.
I agree, Carrie. If we contributed on our full incomes the system would have more money, as well, so it should theoretically pay for itself. That could make a HUGE difference for a lot of families.
For me, allowing both parents 35 weeks of leave is sort of like maternity benefits for self-employed people. Not everyone will be able to use the benefits, or use all of them. But I still think that allowing the choice is better than not allowing it, you know?
As a parent of multiples I will give my $.02
I had an uneventful pregnancy and made it to 36 weeks 5 days. My daughter spent her first 24 hours in the Special Care Nursery because she wouldn’t stop grunting; other than that we’ve been blessed with two healthy kids.
I am lucky that my employer topped up my maternity benefits so that I was receiving close to my regular salary. My husband is self employed so I’m not sure how the new ruling would have worked for us.
To answer Carrie’s question, simply put we went into debt. My husband decided that he was going to take six weeks to stay home and get to know his kids and he ended up extending the six weeks to almost three months. It was a hard transition for all of us but I know that he really struggled to get out the door to work when he knew that he was leaving me on my own to deal with two infants. If my husband hadn’t stayed home I’m not sure that I would have been able to get the hang of breastfeeding, his support was critical!!!
I ended up taking more than one year off. I think it was almost 18 months. The extra time I took off was leave without pay. I was planning on taking two years but a new position was created for me so I went back to work earlier than I had expected. I cannot imagine having to go back to work any earlier than one year.
I’m sorry if this is rambly, I’m writing this from work as I try to get preschool sorted out
Thank you ladies!
)
It is so nice to hear such positive reinforcement of something that is so vitally important to Canada’s multiple-birth community. You’re absolutely right Amber, it should be about choice – and it starts with recognition of the need in the first place.
My boys are 17 now, but I know I would not have survived without my mother-in-law coming for four hours every morning so I could actually get three hours of sleep every day until they started sleeping through the night. Not all new parents have their extended family living nearby – which is why more and more fathers are like Sandi’s husband, accepting the financial hardship of being off work so they can share the load with their wife during those exhausting 35 weeks.
If anyone who reads these posts has family or friends in the Ottawa area – PLEASE encourage them to join me at Parliament HIll this May 28th (Friday) at 12:15 p.m. to rally in support of change. Even though there have been a couple of successful appeals for Parental Leave, neither parent has ever received a dime. The government instead chose to send the case to an Umpire and the date of that event has been post-poned until at least February 2011. We need to speak up – and all parents of singletons can help us do that. Please join us in Ottawa for this important event.
Thanks again everyone – your conversation brought tears to my eyes
)
Thank you for this insight – I love reading things like that! I totally agree, btw – moms of multiples should get more time off. I’m in Austria, so I can only say things about our systhem here – its a bad version of the german maternity leave systhem – but better than most things I read so far about other countries. My Daughter is 17 months now and I still get money from the state (about 400€ per month, roughly 500$ – its not as much as it sounds, costs of living are high here), I will keep getting this until my daughter is 30 months old, but my job is only protected until she is two – no idea who invented that…
Parents of multiples get more money, 50% for each additional kid. That may be nice, but the dad still has to keep working, nobody could live off that little money (cost of living: Our apartment has one living room, one bedroom, a small kids room, a small extra room, tiny kitchen and a bathroom that you can barely turn around in and we pay about 550€ or very roughly calculated 700$ rent every month)
sorry for the rant…
thank you,
Vee
.-= Veelana´s last post ..The doll no little girl can resist! =-.
Wow Amber, this post helped me consider my own (lack of) knowledge of family issues and rights in my country (the U.S.). While I am aware of breastfeeding laws in Virginia and D.C., I don’t know too much about laws that certainly must affect other families but not necessarily my own. You inspire me to do more, to be more active and knowledgeable about how laws within my country are affecting all kinds of families.
So, are you going to attend the rally?
I’ve long thought that there needs to be some changes to parental leave for parents of multiples and adoptive parents.
.-= Marilyn´s last post ..Mom’s Night Out =-.
I just want to give you kudos on this. You are always so well researched. Great job!
.-= Jennifer´s last post ..Absent much? =-.
I was very surprised to discover that parents of twins only got one year of EI. That is so wrong. Each child should qualify the parents for a full year. Not to mention that it’s almost impossible for the mother to work with two kids on her hands (or more!).
Thanks to Marilyn for pointing out that adoptive parents only get 9 months (parental leave. The do not qualify for maternity leave. But that’s a story for another day.
.-= harriet Fancott´s last post ..Real parents; real children =-.
I was very surprised to discover that parents of twins only got one year of EI. That is so wrong. Each child should qualify the parents for a full year. Not to mention that it’s almost impossible for the mother to work with two kids on her hands (or more!).
Thanks to Marilyn for pointing out that adoptive parents only get 9 months (parental leave. The do not qualify for maternity leave. But that’s a story for another day.
.-= harriet Fancott´s last post ..Real parents; real children =-.
Our backwards government and society is still arguing about paid maternity leave here in Australia but I can’t imagine any proposal put forward would ever offer parents of multiples any more than one set of maternity leave. Especially since our government doesn’t even see twins as a ‘multiple birth’ when it comes to family tax benefit… strange though because I was sure I had multiple (ie two) babies way back 6 years ago, and I am sure that meant having to buy two of most things that parents of singletons only have to buy one off…. Mind you, back then I was only eligible to claim tax entitlements for one of them… at least now that has changed for future parents of twins or more.
.-= katepickle´s last post ..Tomatoes in May. =-.
Amber – I’m curious whether a portion of the 35 weeks is reserved for the fathers. I just came back from a business trip in Northern Europe where colleagues said that it was openly understood in the near past that women wouldn’t be hired, since they might leave for a year at a time. Currently, there is a push for the fathers to take a portion of the parental leave, and that seems to be making a difference. Canada doesn’t seem to have the no-hire issue, so I wonder if it’s something y’all solved much earlier.
.-= Lady M´s last post ..And Now I Need To Make a Lab Coat =-.
In fact, no parental leave is reserved for fathers. Only about 11% of Canadian fathers take any government leave. I haven’t seen issues where women aren’t hired, so I suspect that it might just be a cultural difference. Also, we didn’t get year-long maternity leaves until 2001, so perhaps by then times had already changed?
The couple that fought and won the maternity leave benefits for both parents was actually in my prenatal class!
Having had twins, I think that it should definitely be an option for both of the parents to take the leave. Our situation was such that we didn’t get anything, but that’s another story
Having multiples is a lot harder than a single baby. I’ve done it both ways. Without having had my mother in law at my house full time while my husband was at work for the first two months I don’t think I would have survived and I definitely wouldn’t have been able to breastfeed. I’m going to try to make it out the rally with my one year olds
I read this and just wanted to say how much I, as a parent of twins, appreciate all of your comments and your support for improved parental leave for parents of multiples!!!! when that couple (quoted in the original post) won, the story was posted on CBC and I was completely dismayed at the significant amount of negative comments posted, it was pretty disheartening……twins run in my family and our boys are an absolute gift for us…we were very fortunate as I had a good pregnancy and only one of our boys had to be in the NICU and only for 24 hours. We have no family that live in town that can help so when we got home my husband took 3 weeks off (taken from our parental leave so shortened my own time) and my mom came for 2 weeks, and then I was on my own. Fortunately our babies were in good health and although it was challenging I managed as best I as I could. I then returned to work when they were 11 months because our parental benefits were used up…..trying to find daycare for 2 babies was quite challenging. I think in our situation we were lucky, I’ve had friends in the Multiple Births Community who have not been so fortunate – babies come very early, health issues, having to stay in hospital from anywhere from 3 to 7 months (all coming out of your maternity leave). If we could have afforded to I would stay home with our boys but it’s not an option. Sorry for rambling but I just was so touched by everyone’s support!
I am impressed by the quality of your blogs. Thank you very much for your interest in my case and the kind words. The decision at the umpire level could come any day now. My fingers are crossed.