Father’s Day in Canada

8.1 million — The total number of fathers in Canada (including biological, adoptive and step fathers) in 2006.

3.7 million — The number of fathers in Canada with children under 18 living with them (including biological, adoptive and step fathers) in 2006.

Mothers in Canada

9.2 million — The total number of mothers in Canada (including biological, adoptive and step mothers) in 2006.

3.9 million — The number of mothers in Canada with children under 18 living with them (including biological, adoptive and step mothers) in 2006.

Source: General Social Survey – Family, 2006 (Cycle 20).

Parental leave

12% — The proportion of eligible fathers outside Quebec who claimed or planned to claim paid parental leave benefits for the birth or adoption of a child in 2008. This was up from 9% in 2004.

82% — The proportion of eligible fathers in Quebec who claimed or planned to claim paid paternity or parental leave benefits for the birth or adoption of a child in 2008. This was up from 22% in 2004.

13 — The average number of paid benefit weeks fathers outside Quebec claimed or planned to claim in 2008.

7 — The average number of paid benefit weeks fathers in Quebec claimed or planned to claim in 2008.

Source: Unpublished data from the Employment Insurance Coverage Survey.

See also: “Fathers’ use of paid parental leave,” Perspectives on Labour and Income, June 2008; Navigating Family Transitions: Evidence from the General Social Survey.

Stay-at-home parents

In 2009, there were 2.7 million couples with at least one child under age 16 at home.

While the majority of these families were dual-earners, one in five (495,000) had one employed parent and one stay-at-home parent.

88% — The proportion of two-parent families in Canada where it was the mother who stayed home in 2009 (437,000 families).

12% — The proportion of two-parent families in Canada where it was the father who stayed home in 2009 (58,000 families).

Lone parents

20% — The proportion of one-parent families headed by men in 2006.

80% — The proportion of one-parent families headed by women in 2006.

1.4 million — The total number of one-parent families (headed by a man or a woman) in 2006.

Source: 2006 Census, Family Portrait: Continuity and Change in Canadian Families and Households in 2006: Findings.

Adoptions

603,743 — The number of men and women in Canada who reported in 2006 that they had adopted children.

56% — The proportion of all adopted children in 2006 who were adopted by a mother or father with at least one biological child.

23% — The proportion of all adoptions in which a child is adopted by a man or woman with no biological children.

Source: General Social Survey – Family, 2006.

See also: Navigating Family Transitions: Evidence from the General Social Survey.

Time with the family

250 minutes — The amount of time men spent with their family members during a work day, on average, in 1986.

205 minutes — The amount of time men spent with their family members during a work day, on average, in 2005.

248 minutes — The amount of time women spent with their family members during a work day, on average, in 1986.

209 minutes — The amount of time women spent with their family members during a work day, on average, in 2005.

Source: “Study: Time with the family,” The Daily, Tuesday, February 13, 2007.

Keeping in touch

Dads who remain closely involved with their children in the first few months following separation have a much greater chance of remaining involved with their kids later on.

Source: “Study: Frequency of contact between separated fathers and their children,” The Daily, Monday, October 29, 2007.

You can find more details at: http://www42.statcan.gc.ca/smr08/2010/smr08_143_2010-eng.htm