Hi,

I would like to have some interesting and practical suggestions from our all desi friends who became parent after they arrived in Canada for the first time or had a child after landing in Canada.

Yes, I am aware that the Topic is personal but I think that It has a significant role in the settlement of New Immigrants who are trying to adapt to New Life.

In India where we have our parents, brothers , sisters and relatives to take care of the child & mother even if they are working whereas in canada it could be altogether different where in you have to do everything on your own for couple of months till the baby becomes big enough to be taken care of by the Baby Sitters.

I would like to know how our desi friends dealt with the situation when they had to do the Job alone, (Before the Birth of the baby Both of them were working) manage with the limited time of maternity leave and taken back on the same Job after the Gap, manage with the expenses of Pre and post delivery etc. as I understand that the Baby Sitting Costs are very expensive.

Is there any help and assistance offerred by any Social Service organisation / Govt. etc to guide us through.

I welcome the suggestions, Do's and Don't from our group since they had experienced these problems and would give the practical solutions to other new landed immigrants / proposed immigrants.

Please do not take my words personally,

Warm regards

Amit

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Now, Not "Hardwork" but "Smartwork" is the Key to Success.

I've always liked the fact that it has been my wifes and my responsibility to take care of our kids. So I must say I rather like it the way we have to manage without help. It can be very tough...and I have had a very tough week dealing with some kid related health issues. However, all in all I find it very satisfying. I know a few other parents who are in the same boat. The funny part is that now none of us see the need for family help(which can sometimes border on interference...*from our viewpoint*) after the few years of control over all issues related to raising our children. So yes I actually prefer it this way.

As for managing with baby sitters etc. The wife and i were not too fond of doing things that way and we decided that one of us should stay at home even though it meant sacrificing on some material things initially.
I'm not sure that its in the best interests of the child to leave him/her with baby sitters at 2 months(or even a year)...but call me conservative.
So it all depends on your priorities. For us the fact that one of us can be with our children whenever they really need us, is more important than anything else. So we did not have to deal with making the choice for my wife to go back to work etc. Luckily for us it all worked out and we can afford to keep doing that even now. My wife now manages her own business from home. When she goes on her overnight business trips, I cash in my vacation days to stay with the kids.
As we see it...there will always be enough time for making more money, on the other hand, our kids are growing up too soon and we will not get a second chance at raising them.

I dont know of any expenses pre and post delivery. You know that there is a healthcare system that shoulders the burden right?

There is another thread about maternity benefits and child benefit payments going on so you may want to refer to that too.

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Maternity Leave - If the person is full time permanent employee, most of the employers provide maternity/paternity leave to their employee for a period of one year (combined with the spouse) with pay after the birth of the child.

If the person is not permanent employee, and have put up 900 hours of work with any number of employers, he is entitled to such leave through Governemnt of Canada (human resources development). Under this program, person gets part of his last drawan salary including vacation pay and bonus. This benefit is limited to the maximum income of 39900 in Ontario.

The expenses related to delivery pre or post (if related to healthcare) are paid by Government of Canada but for drugs and prescriptions one has to either pay from his pocket or if he is having benefits from his/her employer, can claim from health insurance program.

For miscellaneous expenses related to delivery - car seat, accessories for the delivery, are paid by parents. If parents are self employed, they may claim in their business expenses.

Generally youmay visit the website of Human resources of Govt of Canada for further information.

Canada provides new child bonus depending upon number of childs in your family and area of your residence.

you can claim a car seat as a business expense? Are you sure? If so thats neat! You may be right, its your area of expertise afterall. I dont see the logic behind it though.

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Dear Jake3d and Sanjiv

Thanks for the vital info. One final question, Would you consider it better having a Child in Canada than in India (Backhome) ?

Does it really help to have a child to posses Citizenship (By Birth) or the other way round....You know what I mean the second Class citizen --If you become Citizen from Landed Immigrant (Irrespective of being child or Adult) against a natural Citizen by birth.

Please advise,

Warm regards

Amit

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It really does not matter. I have a Canadian passport and consider mayself as a first class citizen...even though I got my passport only at 27yrs of age. Canada IS my home now. I have not had any experiences to suggest otherwise. Even before I got my passport I did not feel different. Maybe my personal philosophy that I am a citizen of humanity(versus a *manmade* boundary) played an important factor in my thinking.
So natural citizen or otherwise it does not matter. Maybe it does in the US since you would have to be born there to run for presidency. I dont think even that is an issue in Canada. One more reason why I love this place.
***Canada is as inclusive as you let it be ***

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Thanks Jake3d, You have cleared my doubts and also for being so prompt.

Amit

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Now, Not "Hardwork" but "Smartwork" is the Key to Success.