Having a baby in Canada: the whole system, in order

Five systems, one baby. Here is how health care, paid leave, job protection, child benefits and birth registration fit together, with every 2026 figure checked on the official page.

Updated October 13, 2026 · sources checked October 13, 2026

In short

In Canada your province covers prenatal care and the birth, Employment Insurance pays up to 15 weeks of maternity benefits and up to 35 (standard) or 61 (extended) weeks of parental benefits per parent, Québec runs its own plan (QPIP), and the Canada Child Benefit pays up to $8,157 a year per child under 6 (July 2026 to June 2027).

The five systems, in one table

Almost every question new parents in Canada ask comes from mixing up five separate systems. Once you know who does what, the rest is a list of steps.

What	Who runs it	Our guide
Prenatal care, the birth, your baby's doctor	Your province or territory (OHIP, RAMQ, MSP, AHCIP...)	Prenatal care in Canada
Paid time off around the birth	Employment Insurance (federal), or QPIP in Québec	EI maternity and parental benefits and Québec's QPIP
Getting your job back	Provincial employment standards (or the Canada Labour Code for federally regulated employers)	Maternity leave in Canada and Ontario
Your baby's legal papers	Your province's vital statistics office	Register the birth, SIN and health card
Monthly child benefits	Canada Revenue Agency, with provincial top-ups	Canada Child Benefit for a newborn

The 2026 numbers at a glance

	Amount or length	Checked on
EI maternity benefits	Up to 15 weeks at 55% of earnings, maximum $729 a week in 2026	Canada.ca
EI standard parental	Up to 35 weeks for one parent, 40 shared, at 55%, maximum $729 a week	Canada.ca
EI extended parental	Up to 61 weeks for one parent, 69 shared, at 33%, maximum $437 a week	Canada.ca
EI eligibility	600 insured hours in the 52 weeks before your claim	Canada.ca
EI maximum insurable earnings	$68,900 in 2026	Canada Revenue Agency
QPIP (Québec), basic plan	18 weeks maternity at 70%, 5 weeks paternity at 70%, 32 shareable weeks (7 at 70%, 25 at 55%)	Québec.ca
QPIP maximum insurable earnings	$103,000 in 2026	Québec.ca
Canada Child Benefit, child under 6	Up to $8,157 a year ($679.75 a month), July 2026 to June 2027	Canada.ca
Health coverage waiting period	Never more than three months under the Canada Health Act; none in Ontario	Justice Laws, Ontario.ca

All figures were read on the official pages on 13 October 2026, as of October 2026. Employment Insurance amounts usually change each January, and child benefit amounts each July.

Your path, step by step

Weeks 4 to 8. Book a first visit with a family doctor, a walk-in clinic or a midwifery practice. The SOGC explains that obstetricians, family doctors, midwives and nurse practitioners are all qualified to provide prenatal care.
Weeks 11 to 20. The SOGC recommends two ultrasounds for all pregnant women: a dating scan at 11 to 14 weeks and an anatomy scan at 18 to 20 weeks.
Weeks 14 to 28. Check your EI eligibility (600 insured hours) or your QPIP eligibility ($2,000 of insurable earnings), compare standard and extended options, and ask HR about any top-up.
Weeks 28 to 34. Give your employer written notice under your province's rules.
Your last day of work. Your employer issues your Record of Employment. Apply for EI as soon as you stop working, and no later than 4 weeks after.
The first 30 days after birth. Register the birth online and tick the boxes for the SIN, the Canada Child Benefit and, where offered, the health plan.

Your situation

Parenting alone? EI and QPIP both cover you fully, and Québec adds exclusive single-parent weeks. See maternity leave in Canada.
Self-employed? Outside Québec, EI is opt-in with a 12-month wait. In Québec, QPIP covers you automatically. See maternity benefits for self-employed parents.
New to Canada or without coverage yet? See health coverage for newcomers during pregnancy.

When to call. In an emergency, call 911. For health advice, many provinces have a line on 811 (8-1-1 in British Columbia; 811 Info-Santé in Québec). If you feel low, anxious or unsafe, call or text 9-8-8, the Suicide Crisis Helpline, any time.

All our Canada guides

Maternity leave in Canada: how long, how much, and your rights15 weeks of maternity benefits, then 35 or 61 weeks of parental benefits, plus your job protection.EI maternity and parental benefits in 2026, explainedRates, 2026 maximums, standard vs extended, the 600-hour rule and the Family Supplement.How to apply for EI maternity and parental benefits, step by stepWhen to apply, what to have ready, the ROE, the access code and My Service Canada Account.Maternity and parental leave in Ontario: weeks, notice and pay17 weeks of pregnancy leave, 61 or 63 weeks of parental leave, the notice rules and EI pay.Québec's parental insurance plan (QPIP / RQAP), explainedBasic or special plan, maternity, paternity and shareable weeks, eligibility and how to apply.The Canada Child Benefit for your newborn: amounts and how to applyUp to $8,157 a year per child under 6, eligibility, the fastest way to apply, and provincial top-ups.Your newborn's papers in Canada: birth registration, SIN, health card, passportThe 30-day deadline, the online newborn bundles, certificate fees, the SIN, the health card and the passport.Pregnant and new to Canada: getting health coverage for you and your babyWaiting periods, Ontario's OHIP rule, the Interim Federal Health Program, and what to do if you are not covered yet.Prenatal care in Canada: who you will see and what happens whenChoosing a provider, the two recommended ultrasounds, the glucose and GBS tests, and what is covered.Maternity benefits when you are self-employed in CanadaThe EI opt-in with its 12-month rule, the 2026 premiums, and why Québec is different.

Everything in one book

Every page here is free. If you would rather have the whole system in one calm, printable place, with a province-by-province table, a sample notice letter for your employer, a week-by-week admin checklist and pages for your dates, budget and contacts, our guide Having a Baby in Canada brings it together.

Questions parents ask

Is giving birth free in Canada?

For people covered by their provincial or territorial health plan, medically necessary hospital and physician services are insured under the Canada Health Act, so prenatal visits with a doctor and a hospital birth are not billed to you. Extras such as a private room or prescriptions outside hospital may not be covered.

How long is maternity leave in Canada?

Employment Insurance pays up to 15 weeks of maternity benefits, then up to 35 weeks of standard or 61 weeks of extended parental benefits for one parent. Job protection is set by your province, for example 17 weeks of pregnancy leave plus 61 weeks of parental leave in Ontario.

Is Québec different?

Yes. Québec residents receive maternity, paternity and parental benefits from the Québec Parental Insurance Plan instead of EI, with up to 18 weeks of maternity benefits at 70% of earnings on the basic plan.

Sources

Government of Canada — EI maternity and parental benefits, what these benefits offer checked October 13, 2026
Canada Revenue Agency — How we calculate your CCB (July 2026 to June 2027) checked October 13, 2026
Gouvernement du Québec — QPIP choice of plan and types of benefits checked October 13, 2026
Canada Health Act (Justice Laws), insured services and waiting periods checked October 13, 2026
SOGC (pregnancyinfo.ca) — Choosing a health care provider checked October 13, 2026

Mamavela explains; it does not replace your midwife, doctor or pediatrician, who know your situation. If something worries you, call them. In an emergency, call 911 (US), 999 (UK) or 112.