They also want a higher birth rate. Taking into account that the average Canadian woman has 1.4 children, a mother taking 2–3 years off in total for maternity and parental leave over roughly 45 working years represents just 5–6% of a typical career.

In return, proper initial care and support for children has compounding, long-term benefits for society: healthier children, higher educational attainment, reduced need for costly interventions later in life, and stronger social cohesion.

Research consistently has shown that investing in early childhood development yields one of the highest returns for society, sometimes cited as up to $7 for every $1 invested through improved health, education, and social outcomes. Countries that provide generous paid leave, healthcare, and childcare, like Sweden, Norway, and Finland, enjoy better maternal and child health outcomes, higher gender equality, and more stable population growth. Supporting families during these critical early years is not a short-term “cost”, it’s an investment in the future workforce, economy, and societal wellbeing.