How do you qualify for paid maternity leave in Canada?

Question

My husband is Canadian and is trying to convince me to move there. This is one of the selling points but I'm wondering what the conditions are ...

Answer 1

You should check out this website:

http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/ei/types/speci...

I am Canadian, and I know a few things - you have to work 52 consecutive weeks of work with the same company. You likely have to be Canadian in some way ... but that website should help you out!

Answer 2

I'm in Ontario, and for mat leave you have to have worked 400 hours that you had employee insurance taxes taken off.

You also have to supply all of your records of employment from the past year.

I'm not sure how it would work for you not being Canadian though, so your best bet would be to call and ask about it. They are pretty decent on the phone.

The downside to it all is how long it took for me to start getting money...I stopped working on the 10th of April, got my record of employment a few weeks later and finally was able to finish the application for mat pay around April 28th, and I am just starting to get money as of tomorrow. One of the other downsides is that you don't get any money for the first 2 weeks off.

Also, your husband can get leave as well with the same conditions.

Another thing....if your baby is Canadian they will have free health care in Canada.

EDIT: To the person above, you actually don't have to work for the same company for 1 whole year. The main requirement is 400 hours where you were insured through employee insurance. I was working at a restaurant until August last year when I moved 2 hours away for school, worked 4 months in retail before moving back and working just over 3 months in a call centre.