Thinking about taking parental leave in Canada?

In this episode of DemograFix Cara Stern talks with Jasmine Steffler (from Walkable Parenthood and Oh The Urbanity!) about her experience navigating parental leave. From understanding benefits and income replacement to finding childcare, building community, and adjusting to life with a new baby, Cara and Jasmine know what it takes to grow a family in Canada.

If you're expecting a child or planning a family, this conversation covers many of the practical questions parents have before taking leave:

✅ How parental leave and EI benefits work in Canada

✅ The difference between 12- and 18-month leave options

✅ Why Quebec's parental leave system is different

✅ How much income you can expect while on leave

✅ Finding daycare and understanding childcare costs

✅ Building community and avoiding isolation during leave

✅ Life with a baby in a walkable city without owning a car

✅ What we wish we knew before taking leave

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Canadian Parental Leave

00:48 Understanding Parental Leave Policies

02:29 Choosing the Length of Leave

02:51 The Quebec Parental Insurance Plan vs. Other Provinces

05:08 Navigating the Childcare System

06:15 Financial Challenges and Income Replacement

07:50 Walking and Cycling Without a Car

10:19 Finding Community During Parental Leave

12:50 Lessons Learned and Future Considerations

15:55 Traveling with a Young Child

16:49 Conclusion and Outro

Research/links:

The effect of leave policies on increasing fertility: a systematic review | Humanities and Social Sciences Communications 

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41599-022-01270-w

(PDF) Does Parental Leave Affect Fertility and Return-to-Work? Evidence from a "True Natural Experiment" 

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/5135837_Does_Parental_Leave_Affect_Fertility_and_Return-to-Work_Evidence_from_a_True_Natural_Experiment

The Daily — Fertility and baby names, 2024 

https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/250924/dq250924d-eng.htm

Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux

Produced by Meredith Martin

Funded by the Neptis Foundation https://neptis.org/