Maternity leave for adoptive parents in Ontario

I am writing in response to the recent letter by Kristen Hallett, who expressed concern that the Ontario Medical Association Maternity Leave Benefit Program does not extend to adoptive mothers.¹ The OMA shares the perspective that paternity and adoption benefits should be provided in addition to maternity benefits.

During our most recent negotiations with government, the OMA proposed more broadly based family benefits. However, after significant deliberation, it was determined that the OMA and government would first initiate a maternity benefit to recognize the most pressing need in the face of long- standing and well-documented evidence of the biological issues for new mothers. The OMA intends to further explore the issue of family benefits in our next round of negotiations, with the goal of expanding the benefit program to include paternity and adoption coverage.

Signature

Albert Schumacher
President Ontario Medical Association Toronto, Ont.