This page explores how parental leave policies vary across Canada’s provinces and territories. It highlights differences in leave duration, eligibility, job protection, and the coordination between federal benefits and subnational policies. A comparison table summarizes key distinctions to make it easier for users to understand these variations.
Federal Parental Leave Program
The federal parental leave program, managed by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), provides financial support through Employment Insurance (EI). These benefits serve as a foundation that provincial policies complement with additional regulations.
- Maternity Benefits: 15 weeks for the birthing parent
- Parental Benefits:
- Up to 40 weeks can be shared between parents, but one parent cannot receive more than 35 weeks. Parents can earn up to 55% of their average weekly insurable earnings.
- Up to 69 weeks can be shared between parents, but one parent cannot receive more than 61 weeks. Parents can earn up to 33% of their average weekly insurable earnings.
- Eligibility: requires 600 hours of insurable employment in the past year (52 weeks) or since the start of the last claim.
- This eligibility requirement excludes certain groups, causing significant challenges for parents who are:
- Self-Employed Workers: self-employed parents do not automatically qualify for federal maternity or parental benefits unless they opt into the special EI program for self-employed individuals, which requires contributions and waiting periods.
- Students and Recent Graduates: Individuals transitioning from school to the workforce may struggle to meet the 600-hour threshold. This creates barriers for young parents, forcing them to navigate new parenthood without financial support or forcing them to delay having children.
- Part-Time and Casual Workers: Many workers in retail, hospitality, and other low-wage sectors have difficulty meeting the required hours, particularly those working multiple part-time jobs with fluctuating schedules. This exclusion disproportionately impacts women, immigrants, and marginalized groups, who are more likely to be employed in precarious jobs.
- Implications of Eligibility Restrictions: These eligibility restrictions create financial burdens for those excluded from the federal program. Without access to income replacement, many parents are forced to:
- Abandon taking leave entirely, especially in the absence of strong job protection in certain provinces.
- Rely on personal savings or family support, which is not always available or sustainable, deepening existing inequalities.
- Return to work sooner than desired, compromising family well-being and infant bonding.
- Expanding eligibility criteria—such as lowering the 600-hour requirement or creating more inclusive programs—would improve equitable access to parental benefits and better reflect the realities of Canada’s diverse workforce. Some provinces, including Quebec through QPIP, have already introduced measures to address gaps by covering self-employed parents and offering more flexible leave-sharing.
- Federal Parental Leave Program References
Provincial and Territorial Parental Leave Policies
Each province and territory in Canada sets its own unpaid leave regulations, such as length of leave, eligibility criteria, and whether biological and adoptive parents receive equal treatment. Below is a breakdown of how leave policies differ across regions:
| Province/Territory |
Maternity Leave |
Parental Leave |
Unique Features |
| Alberta |
16 weeks |
62 weeks |
Aligns closely with federal EI benefits |
| British Columbia |
17 weeks |
61 weeks |
Job-protected leave for all eligible employees |
| Manitoba |
17 weeks |
63 weeks |
Parental leave slightly exceeds federal program |
| New Brunswick |
17 weeks |
62 weeks |
Follows federal structure with minor adaptations |
| Newfoundland and Labrador |
17 weeks |
61 weeks |
Similar to federal leave periods |
| Nova Scotia |
16 weeks |
77 weeks |
Longer parental leave option available |
| Ontario |
17 weeks |
63 weeks |
Flexible leave-sharing between parents |
| Prince Edward Island |
17 weeks |
62 weeks |
Includes support for adoptive parents |
| Quebec |
18 weeks (QPIP) |
75% wage replacement |
Unique provincial insurance program (QPIP) |
| Saskatchewan |
19 weeks |
59 weeks |
offers longest maternity leave duration |
| Northwest Territories |
17 weeks |
61 weeks |
Policies aligned with federal EI benefits |
| Nunavut |
17 weeks |
37 weeks |
Shorter parental leave period |
| Yukon |
17 weeks |
63 weeks |
Standard parental leave with job protection |
Notable Outliers and Key Differences:
- Nunavut’s short parental leave: Nunavut stands out for offering only 37 weeks of unpaid parental leave, significantly shorter than the 59–77 weeks offered in other provinces. This disparity reflects the territory’s smaller workforce and unique challenges, including remote work environments and limited access to childcare. As a result, families in Nunavut face added pressure to return to work sooner, which has raised concerns among policy advocates about work-family balance in remote communities.
- Quebec’s Distinct Wage Replacement Model (QPIP): Quebec operates its Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP), offering up to 75% wage replacement. Unlike the federal EI program, QPIP also provides greater flexibility for parents to share leave and covers self-employed workers. This higher wage replacement helps reduce financial stress for families, promoting longer leaves and more equitable sharing of caregiving duties between parents. Quebec’s system is often cited as a best practice, influencing national debates around improving parental benefits.
- Extended Leave in Nova Scotia: Nova Scotia offers 77 weeks of unpaid parental leave, the longest in Canada. This extended leave period reflects efforts to provide parents with more time to care for their children, even though wage replacement remains limited under federal EI. While this policy offers flexibility, it also places financial pressure on families who may need to rely on savings or other sources of income during leave.
- Provincial and Territorial Parental Leave Policies References