It is a dilemma that Canadian women know all too well. According to Statistics Canada, working women take an average of 6.4 months of maternity leave. But one in four women return to work less than one month after the child's birth. The determining factor is, far and away, money. During that period, they receive 55 per cent of their salary.
Many unionized workers have their maternity benefits topped up.
This is particularly true of women-dominated unions such as those for teachers and civil servants. In Quebec, workers receive 93 per cent of their salary for six months and they can take up to five years of maternity leave without giving up the job. Self-employed workers, those like Ms. Wyman who depend on grant money and others who do not pay into the UI plan, are not eligible for benefits. It also wants to increase parental benefits to 75 per cent of salary for up to 30 weeks. The new program is currently in limbo as the Quebec and federal governments bicker over transfer of control and UI funds.