Pregnancy
Maternity and parental benefits come through Employment Insurance, except in Quebec, which runs its own more generous plan. Parents choose between a standard option paying more over twelve months and an extended option paying less over eighteen. Birth itself is covered by provincial health insurance. Midwifery is regulated and publicly funded in most provinces, with home birth available.
Canada offers a choice that is unusual: fifteen weeks of maternity benefit followed by parental benefit taken either as thirty-five weeks at the standard rate or sixty-one weeks at a lower one — up to eighteen months in total, with the same money spread thinner. Midwifery is regulated and publicly funded in most provinces, and a home birth with a registered midwife is a normal option rather than a fringe one.
Key points
| Benefits | Employment Insurance maternity and parental benefits; Quebec has its own plan |
|---|---|
| Standard option | Higher rate, up to twelve months in total |
| Extended option | Lower rate, up to eighteen months in total |
| Parental sharing | Additional weeks available when both parents take leave |
| Midwifery | Regulated and publicly funded in most provinces |
| Place of birth | Hospital, birth centre or home, depending on province and risk |
| Cost | Birth covered by provincial health insurance |
In practice
- Choose between the standard and extended options carefully: the decision is irreversible once benefits start.
- Register with a midwifery practice early — caseloads fill quickly in most cities.
- The extra weeks available when both parents take leave are lost if one parent takes everything.
- Check provincial coverage if you move mid-pregnancy: waiting periods can apply.
Cost and coverage
Birth is covered by provincial insurance; benefits replace a percentage of earnings up to a ceiling.
Recent changes
Parental benefits include additional weeks when both parents take leave, an incentive to share; provinces have continued to expand funded midwifery, though waiting lists remain the practical limit.
Where to go
- Service Canada for Employment Insurance benefits.
- Provincial midwifery associations and birth centres.
- Public health units for prenatal classes and postpartum visits.
Worth knowing
The choice between the standard and extended benefit options cannot be changed once the first payment is made. Work out the total amount, not the monthly figure, before deciding.
Frequently asked questions
Standard or extended parental benefits — which is better?
Extended gives you longer at home but the total amount of money is roughly the same, spread over more months at a lower weekly rate. If your employer tops up, the top-up usually applies only during the standard period, which often decides the question. Model both before you choose; you cannot switch afterwards.
Can you have a midwife-attended birth in Canada?
In most provinces yes, with registered midwives publicly funded and able to attend births at home, in a birth centre or in hospital. Availability is the constraint — demand exceeds supply in many cities, so register as soon as you know you are pregnant.
The general article: Pregnancy · Compare with another country
Periods and period products
Canada removed the GST from feminine hygiene products on 1 July 2015 after a petition and a unanimous vote, and the provinces followed for their own sales taxes, so pads, tampons, cups and period underwear are tax-free almost everywhere. Since 15 December 2023, employers under federal jurisdiction — banks, transport, telecommunications, the federal public service — must provide free menstrual products in workplace toilets under the Canada Labour Code regulations. No federal or provincial law provides menstrual leave.
Free provision in schools is provincial: British Columbia required it in all public schools in 2019, Ontario followed in 2021 with products supplied to school boards for several years, and other provinces adopted programmes; in Quebec provision depends on the school service centre, college or university. Community organisations and food banks cover the rest.
Endometriosis is treated in the public system, with consultations and covered surgery free of charge but often long waits for specialised imaging and surgery; a few hospital-based specialised clinics exist in the large cities. Time off work is a matter for the physician and for group insurance or Employment Insurance sickness benefits.
Reusable products are tax-free like disposables; nothing is reimbursed by provincial plans, though some workplace health spending accounts accept them.
Key points
| Taxes | GST removed 1 July 2015; provincial taxes removed as well |
|---|---|
| Federally regulated workplaces | Free products compulsory since 15 December 2023 |
| Schools | British Columbia (2019), Ontario (2021) and other provinces; Quebec institution by institution |
| Menstrual leave | None; medical leave, group insurance, EI sickness benefits |
| Endometriosis | Public system, free, long waits; specialised clinics in large cities |
In practice
- In a federally regulated workplace, products must be in the toilets: report their absence to the employer or the Labour Program.
- Ask the school, college or university what it provides; community organisations fill the gaps.
- For disabling periods, see a family doctor or walk-in clinic and ask for a gynaecology referral.
What it costs
A cycle costs roughly 6 to 15 dollars in disposables, tax-free. Nothing is reimbursed; some health spending accounts cover reusables.
What has changed recently
The federal workplace obligation has applied since December 2023; provincial school programmes have multiplied since 2019.
Where to find help
- Labour Program of Canada: menstrual products in the workplace regulations.
- School boards and school service centres: products provided.
- The Endometriosis Network Canada.
- Community organisations and food banks.
Worth knowing
The free-provision obligation only covers federally regulated employers, about 6 % of workers; a provincially regulated business is under no obligation.
Frequently asked questions
Are tampons taxed in Canada?
No: no GST since 2015, and provincial sales taxes were removed too.
Must my employer provide period products?
Only if federally regulated, since December 2023. Other employers do so voluntarily.
Is there menstrual leave in Canada?
No. Medical leave and group insurance or EI sickness benefits cover absence.
Sources
- Government of Canada — menstrual products in the workplace — regulations for federally regulated employers
- The Endometriosis Network Canada — patient organisation
The general article: Periods and period products · Compare with another country
Sex therapy
Quebec reserves the title “sexologue” by law; elsewhere nothing protects “sex therapist”, provincial plans cover only doctors, and workplace benefits do the rest.
Canada regulates health professions province by province. Quebec is unique in the world in reserving the title of sexologue: since 2013 only members of the Ordre professionnel des sexologues du Québec may use it, on the strength of a bachelor's or master's degree in sexology from the Université du Québec à Montréal, and psychotherapy there requires a separate permit from the Ordre des psychologues. In every other province, “sex therapist” and “sexologist” are unprotected words; what is regulated is the underlying profession — psychologist, physician, and in some provinces psychotherapist or counsellor.
Ontario made psychotherapy a controlled act in 2007 and regulates psychotherapists through the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario: sex therapy, being psychotherapy, may only be delivered by members of a college authorised for that act. The Association of Sex Therapy in Ontario — formerly BESTCO — certifies sex therapists after supervised training and keeps a directory. In British Columbia, Alberta and the other provinces, psychologists are regulated while counselling and psychotherapy remain largely voluntary, with associations such as the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association setting standards. Many Canadian practitioners hold the American AASECT certification.
Provincial health plans — OHIP, RAMQ, MSP and the others — pay physicians, so erectile dysfunction, pain or hormonal problems are investigated free of charge through a family doctor, urologist or gynaecologist. They do not pay psychologists, psychotherapists or sex therapists in private practice. Public access exists in Quebec's CLSC network and, elsewhere, in hospital sexual-medicine or mental-health clinics, with waiting lists.
Extended health benefits from employers typically reimburse psychologists, and often registered psychotherapists, social workers or sexologists, up to an annual ceiling; the list of eligible professions is written into each plan. A private session costs roughly 120 to 200 dollars, more for psychologists.
Key points
| Title | Reserved in Quebec (OPSQ, 2013); unprotected elsewhere |
|---|---|
| Quebec training | Bachelor's or master's in sexology, UQAM; psychotherapy permit from the Ordre des psychologues |
| Ontario | Psychotherapy a controlled act (CRPO); certification by the Association of Sex Therapy in Ontario |
| Other provinces | Psychologists regulated; counselling largely voluntary; AASECT certification common |
| Provincial plans | Cover physicians only; hospital and CLSC services free with waits |
| Workplace benefits | Usually cover psychologists, often psychotherapists or sexologists, up to an annual ceiling |
| Typical fee | 120–200 dollars a session |
In practice
- In Quebec, check the OPSQ roll; elsewhere, check the provincial college for the underlying profession, then the ASTO or AASECT directory.
- Read your benefits booklet for the exact list of eligible practitioners and the annual maximum.
- Start with your family doctor for physical symptoms: the work-up is covered.
- Ask about hospital sexual-medicine clinics; several university hospitals run them, with referral.
Cost and reimbursement
Physician: covered by the provincial plan. Private therapy: 120–200 dollars a session, reimbursed in whole or part by workplace benefits if the profession is listed. Public clinics: free, with waiting lists.
What has changed recently
Quebec's order has stepped up prosecutions for illegal use of the title. BESTCO renamed itself the Association of Sex Therapy in Ontario and keeps its certification pathway.
Where to go
- Ordre professionnel des sexologues du Québec: public roll and complaints.
- College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario; Association of Sex Therapy in Ontario.
- Provincial colleges of psychologists: registration checks.
- CLSC (Quebec) and hospital sexual-medicine clinics.
Worth knowing
Outside Quebec, the word “sexologist” guarantees nothing. Look for a regulated underlying profession and a recognised sex-therapy certification, and expect to pay unless your benefits list the profession.
Frequently asked questions
Is “sexologist” a protected title in Canada?
Only in Quebec, where it is reserved to members of the OPSQ. In other provinces anyone may use it; the regulated element is the underlying profession.
Does my provincial plan cover sex therapy?
No, unless it is delivered by a physician or within a public hospital or CLSC service. Workplace benefits usually cover private sessions up to a ceiling.
Can a sexologist in Quebec do psychotherapy?
Only with the psychotherapy permit issued by the Ordre des psychologues, which requires a master's degree. Others provide counselling and sex education.
Sources
- Ordre professionnel des sexologues du Québec — public roll of sexologists in Quebec
- College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario — register of psychotherapists, controlled act
- Association of Sex Therapy in Ontario (formerly BESTCO) — certified sex therapists
The general article: Sex therapy · Compare with another country
Mental health
A three-digit crisis line since 2023, and psychologists who are mostly not covered by the public plan.
A national three-digit suicide crisis helpline has operated by call and text since late 2023. Beyond crisis, the picture is a patchwork: psychiatrists are covered by provincial health insurance, psychologists in private practice generally are not, and access to publicly funded therapy depends on the province. Employer benefit plans are, in practice, how most people pay for therapy.
Canada's public health plans cover psychiatrists and family doctors but generally not psychologists in private practice, so most talking therapy is paid privately or through employer benefits — the central structural gap in Canadian mental health care. Since 2023 the three-digit line 988 provides suicide crisis support by call or text anywhere in the country, in English and French.
Key points
| Crisis line | National three-digit helpline, by call or text, since late 2023 |
|---|---|
| Psychiatrists | Covered by provincial health insurance |
| Psychologists | Generally not covered in private practice |
| Employer plans | The main route to funded therapy for most people |
| Provincial programmes | Free structured therapy programmes in several provinces |
| Involuntary admission | Governed by provincial mental health legislation |
| Remote areas | Telehealth is often the only realistic option |
In practice
- Check your employer plan's annual psychology allowance: it is the most commonly overlooked benefit.
- Several provinces fund free structured therapy programmes - ask your family doctor which exists where you live.
- The three-digit helpline works by text as well as by call.
- A referral to a psychiatrist is covered, but the wait is usually long.
Cost and coverage
Psychiatry is covered by provincial insurance; private psychology is paid by the patient or an employer plan.
Recent changes
The national three-digit helpline went live in November 2023.
Where to go
- National suicide crisis helpline, three digits, by call or text.
- Provincial publicly funded therapy programmes.
- Community mental health organisations and distress centres.
Worth knowing
The split between covered psychiatrists and uncovered psychologists surprises newcomers. Ask specifically what your province funds: the answer differs across the country.
Frequently asked questions
Why are psychologists not covered in Canada?
Because provincial health insurance covers physician services, and psychologists are not physicians. Therapy delivered in a hospital or community programme is covered; the same therapy in a private office is not. Employer benefit plans typically cover a capped annual amount, often between $500 and $3,000.
What is 988?
The national suicide crisis helpline, available by phone or text anywhere in Canada since November 2023, free and around the clock, in English and French. It replaced a patchwork of regional lines and is the number to use in a crisis.
The general article: Mental health · Compare with another country
Dental care
A federal plan rolled out since 2024 has changed the picture for people without private insurance.
Dental care has historically sat outside medicare: provincial health insurance covers only limited oral surgery performed in hospital, and most people rely on employer insurance or pay directly. The Canadian Dental Care Plan, introduced from 2024, now covers residents without access to private dental insurance whose adjusted family net income is below a threshold, with co-payments rising with income.
The plan was opened in stages by age group and then widened to all eligible adults, and it is the largest change to Canadian dental coverage in decades.
Provinces run their own programmes for children, for people on social assistance and for seniors, with rules that differ considerably.
Provincial dental association fee guides are published annually as a reference; dentists set their own fees.
Dental schools in the main cities treat patients at reduced fees.
Key points
| Provincial health insurance | Covers only limited hospital oral surgery |
|---|---|
| Canadian Dental Care Plan | From 2024, for residents without private insurance, income tested |
| Co-payment | Rises with family income |
| Provincial programmes | Children, social assistance, seniors; rules vary |
| Fee guides | Published annually by provincial associations, indicative only |
In practice
- Check eligibility for the Canadian Dental Care Plan before assuming you have no cover.
- Ask for a written treatment plan with procedure codes: insurers and the federal plan both work from them.
- Dental schools in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and elsewhere offer treatment at reduced cost.
Cost and coverage
Examination and cleaning $150–$300. Crown $1,000–$1,800. Implant with crown $3,000–$5,000. Orthodontics $5,000–$9,000.
Recent changes
The Canadian Dental Care Plan continued to widen eligibility, with claims processed directly by participating providers.
Where to go
- Canadian Dental Care Plan, federal.
- Provincial dental programmes for children and low-income adults.
- Faculties of dentistry in the main cities.
- Provincial regulatory colleges, to verify registration.
Worth knowing
Not every dentist participates in the federal plan. Confirm participation before the appointment, otherwise you pay in full and claim afterwards, if at all.
Frequently asked questions
Is the dentist covered by medicare?
No. Provincial health insurance covers only limited hospital oral surgery.
Who qualifies for the federal plan?
Residents without access to private dental insurance whose adjusted family net income is below the threshold.
The general article: Dental care · Compare with another country
HIV and AIDS
Coverage differs by province, and non-disclosure of HIV status can engage the criminal law.
Treatment and PrEP are covered through provincial drug plans, but the terms differ substantially: some provinces provide treatment at no cost to the patient, others apply deductibles and co-payments. The distinctive Canadian issue is legal: the Supreme Court has held that failing to disclose HIV status before sex can amount to aggravated sexual assault, subject to a threshold defined by viral load and condom use.
Key points
| Coverage | Provincial drug plans; terms differ significantly between provinces |
|---|---|
| British Columbia | Treatment and PrEP provided at no cost through a centralised programme |
| Testing | Free through public health; self-tests approved and sold in Canada |
| PEP | Available in emergency departments; coverage varies by province |
| Criminal law | Non-disclosure can constitute aggravated sexual assault |
| Threshold | The Supreme Court set out when disclosure is not required, based on viral load and condom use |
| Indigenous health | Non-Insured Health Benefits cover eligible First Nations and Inuit clients |
In practice
- Check your province's drug plan terms before assuming treatment is free.
- Take advice from a legal organisation specialising in HIV before making disclosure decisions.
- Self-tests are available and can be used privately before engaging with services.
- For PEP, attend an emergency department immediately.
Cost and coverage
Costs depend on the province and on private insurance; several provinces provide treatment at no charge.
Where to go
- Provincial HIV programmes and sexual health clinics.
- CATIE, the national knowledge exchange service.
- HIV legal networks for advice on disclosure.
Worth knowing
The criminal law on non-disclosure is complex and has been applied unevenly. Prosecution guidance has narrowed in several provinces, but the underlying law has not changed: specialist legal advice is essential.
Sources
- Public Health Agency of Canada — STI guidance and surveillance
- CATIE — national HIV and hepatitis C knowledge exchange
Hepatitis B
Provincial programmes with different schedules, and universal antenatal screening.
Vaccination is delivered provincially, and the schedules differ: some provinces vaccinate infants, others at school age, and some do both. Antenatal screening is universal, and infants born to carriers receive vaccine and immunoglobulin at birth. Treatment is covered through provincial drug plans.
Hepatitis B vaccination in Canada is delivered through provincial programmes, and the schedules differ: some provinces vaccinate infants, others historically vaccinated in grade four to six, and several have moved to infant schedules in recent years. Screening in pregnancy is universal, with a birth dose and immunoglobulin for babies of positive mothers.
Key points
| Schedules | Provincial; infant, school-age or both depending on the province |
|---|---|
| Antenatal screening | Universal |
| Babies of carriers | Vaccine and immunoglobulin at birth |
| Testing | Through public health and primary care; recommended for people born in higher prevalence countries |
| Treatment | Covered through provincial drug plans |
| Newcomers | Screening offered through immigrant and refugee health services |
| Coverage variation | Free vaccination eligibility differs by province |
In practice
- Check your province's schedule: what you received depends on where and when you grew up.
- Ask for full serology if you were born in a higher prevalence country.
- Immigrant health clinics offer screening as part of initial assessments.
Cost and coverage
Vaccination is publicly funded for eligible groups; treatment is covered through provincial drug plans.
Where to go
- Provincial public health units.
- Immigrant and refugee health clinics.
- Hepatology clinics of teaching hospitals.
Worth knowing
Because schedules differ between provinces and have changed over time, many adults do not know whether they were vaccinated. A single antibody test settles it.
Frequently asked questions
Which schedule applied to me in Canada?
It depends on the province and the year you were born: some provinces vaccinated infants, others school-age children, and the age has shifted over time. Your provincial immunisation record is the reliable source; where there is no record, serology answers the question.
Sources
- Public Health Agency of Canada — STI guidance and surveillance
- CATIE — national HIV and hepatitis C knowledge exchange
HPV
Free school programmes in every province, and a shift to HPV primary screening with self-sampling led by British Columbia.
Every province and territory runs a free school-based programme, now gender-neutral everywhere, with several having moved to a single dose. Screening is organised provincially and is shifting from cytology to HPV primary testing; British Columbia introduced self-screening kits sent to the home, a model other provinces are following.
HPV vaccination in Canada is delivered through provincial school programmes, free for girls and boys, with schedules and catch-up ages differing between provinces. Screening is also provincial, and several provinces have switched or are switching from cytology to primary HPV testing with longer intervals and self-collection options.
Key points
| School programme | Free in every province and territory, girls and boys |
|---|---|
| Doses | Several provinces have moved to a single dose for healthy children |
| Catch-up | Free up to an age set by each province |
| Screening | Provincial; moving from cytology to HPV primary testing |
| Self-screening | British Columbia offers home self-screening kits |
| Interval | Lengthens with HPV testing, typically to five years |
| Cost | Vaccination and screening are publicly funded |
In practice
- Check your province's catch-up age: free vaccination often extends well beyond school years.
- Ask whether self-screening kits are available where you live.
- The longer interval with HPV testing is safe: it reflects a more sensitive test.
Cost and coverage
Vaccination and screening are publicly funded.
Where to go
- Provincial public health immunisation programmes.
- Provincial cervical screening programmes.
- School health services and community health centres.
Worth knowing
Programmes differ province by province, including the catch-up age and whether self-screening is offered. Check your own province rather than relying on national information.
Frequently asked questions
Does the schedule differ by province?
Yes. Every province and territory funds HPV vaccination through school programmes for girls and boys, but the grade at which it is offered, the catch-up age and the eligibility for adults differ. Check your provincial immunisation schedule rather than a national one.
Sources
- Public Health Agency of Canada — STI guidance and surveillance
- CATIE — national HIV and hepatitis C knowledge exchange
General sources
- Canada.ca — official government portal
- Justice Laws Website — federal statutes and regulations