Maternity and Parental Leave

All eligible employees are entitled to take maternity and parental leave without pay of up to one year, in the event of the birth of a child, and up to 37 consecutive weeks on the adoption of a child.

Employees must have 52 consecutive weeks of employment with the employer to be eligible for maternity and/or parental leave under the Code. This requirement applies to both full-time and part-time employees.

Birth mothers can take up to 52 consecutive weeks of unpaid job-protected leave. This is made up of 15 weeks of maternity leave and 37 weeks of parental leave.

Fathers and/or adoptive parents are eligible for up to 37 consecutive weeks of unpaid, job-protected parental leave. Adoptive parents can take parental leave regardless of the age of the adopted child.

Parental leave may be taken by one parent or shared between two parents but the total combined leave cannot exceed 37 weeks.

To learn more, see the Maternity and Parental Leave Fact Sheet.