Quebec Fathers Increasingly Taking Parental Leave, Driven by Incentive Programs

More Quebec fathers are extending their time away from work to care for their newborns since the introduction of incentives for sharing parental benefits in 2021. However, fathers still represent a minority, with parental leave often viewed as an extension of maternity leave.

The Impact of the Shared Parental Benefits Incentive

Introduced in 2021, the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) offers an incentive for couples to share parental benefits. If both parents grab at least eight weeks of parental benefits – out of the 32 weeks provided in the basic plan – the couple receives four additional weeks to use as they choose. This incentive has demonstrably encouraged fathers to take more time off.

“Without those extra four weeks, I wouldn’t have taken as much time off. Financially, it would have been difficult,” says Diego-Alejandro Llanos, a new father who ultimately took eight weeks of parental leave after initially planning for five, encouraged by the QPIP incentive [1].

Francis Vaillard and his partner also utilized the bonus when their second daughter was born in 2024. “Without the four additional weeks, I don’t think we would have done it. Taking eight weeks away from my partner would have been too much,” he says, emphasizing the importance of supporting his partner’s recovery.

Increased Fatherly Involvement

Data from the Parental Insurance Management Council (CGAP) shows a significant increase in the number of eligible couples meeting the criteria for the four-week bonus. In 2023, 32% of eligible couples qualified, compared to only 8% in 2020 [1]. Preliminary data for 2024 and 2025 indicate this trend is continuing.

“The numbers are super encouraging. The incentive works and helps redefine parental roles. It demonstrates that parenthood is a shared responsibility,” says Camille Tassé-Tétreault, communications advisor at CGAP.

A Shift in Parental Leave Norms

Sophie Mathieu, assistant professor at the University of Sherbrooke and specialist in family policies, notes the surprising effectiveness of the incentive. Research typically highlights the importance of paid leave (with a salary replacement rate exceeding 75%) and non-transferable leave for promoting gender equality in parental leave. The QPIP incentive, whereas different in approach, is proving successful, suggesting a genuine desire among Quebec fathers to be more involved.

Remaining Inequalities in Parental Leave

Despite the progress, fathers still take significantly less parental leave than mothers. Fathers utilize an average of 10.3 weeks, a modest increase from the 8.5 to 9 weeks taken between 2006 and 2020. Mothers, conversely, take an average of 45 weeks, a figure that has remained consistent since 2006 [1].

“It’s a bit of the tragedy of the RQAP. We created a norm where men take paternity leave — and we celebrated it. But in reality, it remains highly unequal,” notes Sophie Mathieu.

The perception of parental leave as an extension of maternity leave persists, with some fathers hesitant to take more than the initial five weeks of paternity leave, fearing they are taking time away from the mother. This perception is reinforced in social circles and sometimes in the workplace, where extended leave for fathers may be viewed unfavorably.

The gender pay gap also plays a role. In 2023, fathers’ average weekly income was 24% higher than mothers’, leading some couples to hesitate about extending leave due to the 55% income replacement rate offered by parental benefits [1].

Future Directions for Equitable Parental Leave

To further reduce inequalities, experts suggest increasing exclusive leave for fathers, similar to the creation of the QPIP in 2006. This approach is expected to have a more significant and beneficial impact on promoting shared parental responsibility.