Beginning a family in Canada

Does moving to Canada and giving birth to a child in Canada transfer the status of Canadian Citizenship transfers to the parents?  

The Country’s birthright citizenship policy states that any child born in Canada will possess a status of Canadian Citizenship irrespective of the citizenship of their parents.   

Only the children of ambassadors born in Canada are not offered the status of Canadian Citizenship.   

But this doesn’t signify that the child’s parent status will also be converted to a Canadian citizen. Modifying the status of Canadian Citizenship for such parents will remain the same.   

Facilities for pregnancy and birth of the child   

Canadian permanent residents and work permit holders can also avail themselves of the benefits of Provincial healthcare coverage. This policy will offer you free access to all childcare and pregnancy childcare facilities. All the below medical facilities are incurred by the government in most of the provinces   

  • Commutation to healthcare staff   
  • Recommended X-rays by the healthcare staff   
  • Minimum 2 ultrasounds by the healthcare staff  
  • A genetic screening test for the qualifying mother to be   
  • A common 4 beds room allotted to mothers for delivery of babies   
  • All the cost of prescribed medications   

Selecting the mode of birth   

There can be numerous ways to give birth to a child but the basic step for every birth is to choose the right kind of healthcare provider who will be with you during the entire pregnancy. You can choose from the three below mentioned options   

  • Authorizing a mid-wife to look after the mother’s primary requirements  
  • A good reliable family doctor   
  • An OB gynecologist    

The Canadian Government should be made familiar with the birth plan of your child. It includes the following things   

  • Selecting the mode of pain during delivery, whether it will be a natural pain or an epidural pain   
  • Select the supporting member you would like to have with you like husband, mother, etc.   
  • Selecting the place to give birth, such as a house, hospital, or delivery center   

Maternity and parental facilities offered   

The maternity and parental benefits in Canada are a bit different from other countries. They only offer maternity and parental leaves, but in Canada, they offer paid leaves as well as financial and employment assistance.    

The facility of Employment Insurance is given to the biological mother, under which she can avail of various benefits during her pregnancy.   

Maternity benefits   

Biological mothers are only offered these maternity benefits if she meets the eligibility criteria. Once she meets all the requirements of the eligibility criteria, she is entitled to receive paid leave for a maximum time period of 15 weeks.   

A biological mother is obliged to receive compensation equivalent to 55% of the average salary for a week. The maximum amount of compensation a mother can receive is $638 CAD every week.   

Parental benefits   

Parents who adopt children or give birth to children can take advantage of the parental benefits. According to its policy, parental benefits can be availed for a maximum time period of 35 weeks. The compensation given is equivalent to 55% of the average salary for a week. The maximum compensation can be extended to $638 CAD for each week.   

Work-life after the birth of the child   

The employer is obliged to grant the same income and work the parents had before the birth of the child. Whereas the employer has to arrange the following things   

  • To make a place available for lactating mothers to breastfeed or feed their child  
  • To grant longer duration of breaks for lactating mothers   
  • To grant the extension of maternity leaves   
  • To make an alternative work arrangement for mothers   

The only scope left for newcomers is to rely on the people of their local communities and friends in Canada.   

Although the Government of Canada has a way to alter this problem among new ‘parents to be’ immigrants in Canada. There are various parental classes available at hospitals at minimal prices.   

A piece of in-depth knowledge regarding the delivery, labor pain, how to breastfeed, etc. Is taught by specialists.   

Canada Child Benefit   

The medium through which the Canadian Government gives financial aid to the permanent residents and Canadian citizen families is through its initiative called, Canada Child Benefit.   

A zero-tax subsidy is given to the registered families who have children aged under 18 years. The process for registering for Canada Child Benefits starts by either registering the birth of the child to the province or through the hospital, the child was born.   

Registered Education Savings Plan   

Another form of financial aid offered by the Canadian Government to families who have moved to Canada with their children. Through RESP, a family can start saving funds for the future prospects of their child, like their education, career, etc.   

A family has to start by depositing funds in the RESP. The government of Canada gives a yearly compensation amount till the child turns 18 which is equivalent to the 20% of the total invested amount. Although the maximum compensation availed by a family in the name of their children is $500 CAD.   

Conclusion   

Starting a new family can be an intimidating experience, and the degree of fear can increase if you have moved to Canada (a new country) with a lack of assistance and encouragement from your family and friends. But the Canadian Government is putting its maximum efforts to ease the lives of parents living in Canada.