To align with the increase in Employment Insurance (EI) sickness benefits from 15 to 26 weeks, the maximum length of unpaid medical leave available to federally regulated private-sector employees will increase from 17 to 27 weeks under the Canada Labour Code.
This change will come into effect on December 18, 2022, the same date as the extension of EI sickness benefits. It will ensure that employees can take unpaid job-protected leave while receiving extended EI sickness benefits.
The federally regulated private sector includes interprovincial air, rail, road, and marine transportation; banks; postal and courier services.