we are currently here on my husbands 3 year work permit (landed Sep 06) and are expecting a baby aug 07.Just a couple of questions

1. what if any benefits our child would be entitled to ?
2. Would the baby automatically become a canadian citizen?
3. How easy would it be to apply for dual citizenship as we probably wont be
settling here permently

Thanks

1. Don't know.
2. If born in Canada then under current laws, child will be a Canadian citizen (irrespective of your status).
3. Assuming one of you is a British citizen born or naturalised in the United Kingdom, Isle of Man or Channel Islands the child will be British (by descent) at birth automatically. Just apply for a British passport for the child.

No problem holding dual British/Canadian citizenship.

A Canadian citizen child won't be much help to you in getting permanent residence, however.

Congratulations In addition to JAJs info you will be eligable for the means tested canada child tax benefit, and the non means tested (but taxed later on) universal child care benefit.

The CCTB does not count as taxable income, and will not count towards your annual tax bill. The amount paid out depends on the previous years reported income and number of kids

The UCCB is a set amount of $100 a month per child, and counts towards your taxable income. The government will claw that back at your marginal tax rate, so dont spend it all on "beer and popcorn" as the liberal politician memorably suggested

http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/benefits/menu-e.html

I am pretty sure that although you are a "temporary resident" on a work permit, for the purposes of child benefits its residential ties that count to establish residency. All my experience with this was after I got PR though, so worth double checking.

By the way, have you found an ob/gyn in montreal?

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=417059

It's a long time ago for me, but I seem to remember that the CCTB is only paid after 12 months of residency. Could be wrong though.

Sounds familiar, but if you have filed a return then you have been here a while. And this kid is only going to shown up just before the year has passed

Didn't Quebec opt out of the federal child benefit thingy? But I seem to recall reading that Quebec's child benefits package is very similar to the federal one. It's just administered separately, apparently. Also, I've read that child care is much more affordable than it is in the rest of Canada, because the Quebec government subsidizes it.

Thanks for all the replies, will look into it nearer the time re child benefit.

How long would a british passport take to get? i assume the baby would have to have a canadian passport first

Yes i did finally find an ob/gyn seeing her tomorrow, in the end had to have a private scan as i couldnt wait any longer all is fine baby is doing well.
I just find the way things are done here (Montreal) very frustrating at times, but i guess it's like any new country

No need for canadian PP first, but you will need the long form birth certificate which takes a while.

FWIW a canadian passport is cheaper and easier to get, and not having a british passport does not mean the kid isnt british in any way.

That was the "national child benefit", a supliment to the CTTB for very low income families. CTTB still applies in PQ.
http://www.nationalchildbenefit.ca/ncb/govtofcan1.shtml

Thanks for the clarification.

We got CCTB from day 1, no 12mth residency first.

Edit: not on a work permit, probably not relevant then!