Pregnant before going to Canada on an open work permit

[clueless_rn]

Hi there please help me i am so confused and clueless..

I am a nurse and will be working as one in Canada.  But while waiting for my visa, I got pregnant.  Is it okay for me to push through?  Should I tell my employers about my condition?  I am 4 months pregnant now and will be leaving for Canada on August.. please help.  I hope they will still accept me despite my condition. 

Thanks a lot!

[BCguy]

They cannot send you back because you are pregnant,I just helped one such file andyour Child will be a Canadian Citizen,Congratulations .it is illegal under employment standards to dismiss you because you are pregnant

[clueless_rn]

wow thanks a lot for the reply! that really eased my confused mind.. thanks a lot! more power and best of luck in everything

[BCguy]

Your welcome and In case your employer dismisses you contact me and I can refer you to people needing nurses in B.C

[clueless_rn]

can i get ur contact information?

i will be working in saskatchewan.. saskatoon to be exact.  i will be in touch with you as soon as i get there..

thanks so much for your good heart..

[clueless_rn]

Anyone who knows how much will I be spending if ever I won't get coverage for maternity benefits in SK, Canada?

It seems that the minimum number of weeks that I should have worked before the claim is 20 weeks.. but I only have 16 weeks until my due date upon my arrival there (

[Leon]

At some point after you arrive in Sask. you have to register for a health care card.  They probably will want to see your work permit to make sure you are legally in the country, the website is http://www.health.gov.sk.ca/how-to-register or you can call 1-800-667-7551 after you arrive if you have any questions.

From their website, it looks to me like they might give you a health card right away because you are coming from overseas, otherwise you arrive in August, you would be covered by Oct 1 at the latest.  After that Sask. pays all your health care bills, hospital, doctors etc.

Do not confuse the health care with the maternity benefits.  Maternity benefits come from the Employment insurance, see http://www1.servicecanada.gc.ca/en/ei/types/special.shtml#Who  It is money for you to live on while you take time off work after having your baby.  You would need to have worked 600 hours to be covered so if you can work full time, 40 hrs. a week, you would need 15 weeks to be covered.  Then you would be entitled to maternity benefits for up to 15 weeks plus parental for up to 35 weeks but the maximum payment is $435 per week or 55% of your wages whichever is less.  If you end up not qualifying for these benefits, you will be without income while you take maternity leave unless your employer offers another insurance

You see, it is also possible that your employer offers some kind of supplemental insurance or benefit plan.  Many employers do.  You should not need more than 3 month to qualify for it and it might pay for things like medications etc. and it might also pay you for time off work if you don't get EI.

[clueless_rn]

Whew thank you for that Leon!

I was really on the brink of giving it up already, I am just so worried about me being discriminated because of my condition.  I understand that they will not be too thrilled to have me because I am pregnant, and was thinking if I will be violating the terms and conditions of their contract.  I hope not..  I was already thinking of e-mailing them and telling them that I am pregnant so that they wouldn't be too surprised when I get there?  I will  be leaving in 2 weeks time.. I am not so relaxed anymore and I have been having sleepless nights due to this dilemma..

Thanks a lot again!

More power to you..

[Leon]

I don't know what your contract says but I'm sure it doesn't say anything about pregnancy so don't worry about it.

[clueless_rn]

Yes Leon, nothing is said about pregnancy and I assume that pregnancy is not considered a disability in Canada am I right?

I will have to let my husband follow me ASAP, will the spousal open work permit be processed as fast as mine did? 

So with this said, then can I not say anything about my pregnancy to my employers until I arrive? 

Your response is very much of great help to me.. I haven't slept all night thinking about all these things.  Thank you in advance..

[BCguy]

The reason many Filipinos move to Canada is precisely because employees have rights,Get used to that.Repeat after me.In Canada,I have rights from the moment I set foot in Canada,I am covered by the Canadian Charter of rights,In Canada I cannot be terminated for being pregnant,IF my employer terminates me after I arrive,It is illegal for him to force me to return to the Philippines If my visa is still valid,I just find another employer even in anothe province,It is illegal for me to pay placement fees to a Canadian Employment agency,If An employment agency forces me to pay placement fees,I simply report them and the goverment will help get my money back..Labor Tribunals are tending to be Pro Labor not management.That is why I left the Philippines to move to a better life in the True North strong and Free

[clueless_rn]

WOW that was really helpful and THANK YOU SO MUCH is all that I can say!

I can now continue preparing my things for my flight..  Thank God for people like you who raise spirits of those who are so helpless.  THANK YOU so much, this means so much to me.. )

[Leon]

I will have to let my husband follow me ASAP, will the spousal open work permit be processed as fast as mine did? 

I don't think it takes very long.  I know some guys at work who got open work permits for their wifes and it seemed to go pretty fast.

[BCguy]

To help put this issue at rest,I contacted a person at the Saskatchewan Ministry of Advanced Education Employment and Labour,It is illegal for an employer to terminate an employee for being pregnant,He said you can confirm this under the labour standards act posted at the ministry website.Its the Saskatchewan Ministry of Advanced Education,Employment and Labour.so with Finality RELAX

[clueless_rn]

Yes now I can relax.. Thanks a lot BCGuy and Leon..  More power to you and may Godbless you even more..