>それまで払っていた税金に対して貰えるマタニティー・リーブは ”ちゃら”になってしまうのでしょうか
--It doesn’t work that way I think.
(sorry my PC which can type in Japnese is crashed right now.)
You have to work more than 600hours(it could be 700hours now. Pease check with EI)within last 52weeks from the day of starting Maternity leave. It has to be not self-employed.
You could get 15weeks of Maternity Leave and 35weeks of paternity leave. Daddy could take Paternity leave as well but in that case, Mommy can’t take it or you can conbine together.
in my case, Daddy took Paternity leave for 2weeks right at beggining when I(Mommy) was on Maternity leave and I took Paternity leave for 33weeks afterwards. so I had 48weeks leave total.
Hope this helps. good luck.