Is Canadian leave and benefits really that confusing?
Canadian leave and benefits is more complex than most parents expect. Answer the questions below to see how prepared you are to navigate your leave, benefits, and income decisions.
What's the difference between leave and benefits?
Your time away from work is called leave and the money you receive in the form of employment insurance (EI) is called benefits.
Could you lose benefits if you didn't apply in time?
Yes. If you apply more than four weeks after you leave work you could lose benefits.
How long do you have to be at work before you are eligible for maternity and parental leave?
It depends on the province you live in. In Alberta it's 90 days. In Ontario it's 13 weeks.
Did you know that you have to pay a deductible before collecting maternity benefits?
Yes. You're eligible for 16 weeks of maternity benefits. The government keeps the first week's payment as a deductible called the waiting period.
Can the other parent start parental leave before the birth mother?
It depends on the province, but typically yes, the other parent can start parental leave before the birth mother. The birth mother takes maternity leave before parental leave.
Can you be on parental leave without collecting parental benefits?
Yes. Leave is typically longer than the duration of benefits.
How long do you have to be at work before you're eligible for maternity and parental benefits?
600 insurable hours
Can you stop and restart parental benefits?
You can per the federal government, but your province and employer may have restrictions regarding leave.
When is the best time to return to work to minimize the impact on your household income?
One size doesn't fit all. Our navigator will help you determine a strategy that's a best fit for you.
Don’t leave this to guesswork!
A few easy-to-miss rules can affect your time off, your benefits, and your family budget. We’re building a tool that turns Canada’s maternity and parental leave rules into a personalized plan.
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Disclaimer: This tool provides educational information for planning purposes only and does not replace official government, employer, legal, financial, or tax advice. Always verify leave and benefits with your employer, your provincial government and Service Canada.