More EI Weeks for Parents and Caregivers

Summary#

This bill changes Canada’s Employment Insurance (EI) rules for parents and caregivers. It excludes pregnancy and parental benefits from the “combined weeks” cap, extends the benefit period so people can use all their weeks, and raises the maximum weeks for caring for a critically ill adult.

• Removes the 50-week combined cap for weeks paid due to pregnancy or parental reasons (s.12(6) amended).
• Lets EI extend a claimant’s benefit period by up to 26 weeks to allow payment of all entitled weeks when pregnancy or parental benefits are involved (s.10(13.02), s.23(3.22) replaced; s.10(10)(c.1) added).
• Increases the family caregiver benefit for a critically ill adult from 15 to 26 weeks and updates sharing rules across claimants (s.12(3)(f), s.12(4.5), s.23.3(6)-(7), s.152.062(6)-(7), s.152.14(1)(f), s.152.14(5.2) replaced).
• Repeals EI Act subsection 12(7) and Schedule IV (repealed).
• Applies similar caregiver-week changes to self‑employed persons who opted into EI special benefits (ss.152.062, 152.14 amended).

What it means for you#

• Households/Parents

  • Weeks paid because of pregnancy or parental reasons will no longer count toward the 50-week combined cap. You can combine these with other EI weeks beyond 50, subject to each benefit’s own maximum (s.12(6) amended).
  • If your 52-week benefit period would run out before you can use all your eligible weeks, EI can extend it by up to 26 weeks so you can receive the full amount, when pregnancy or parental benefits are part of your claim (s.10(10)(c.1) added; s.10(13.02) and s.23(3.22) replaced).
  • Effective date: Data unavailable.

• Caregivers of critically ill adults

  • Maximum weeks increase from 15 to 26 within a 52-week window for the same adult (s.12(3)(f), s.12(4.5) replaced).
  • If more than one eligible person claims for the same adult, you can share up to 26 total weeks between you, by agreement or by prescribed rules if you cannot agree (s.23.3(6)-(7) replaced).

• Workers receiving EI regular benefits

  • If you receive regular EI and also take pregnancy/parental benefits, your benefit period can be extended by up to 26 weeks to allow payment of all weeks you are entitled to (s.10(13.02) replaced).
  • The 50-week combined cap still applies to other combinations, except those paid because of pregnancy or parental reasons (s.12(6) amended).

• Self-employed (opted into EI special benefits)

  • The same 26-week maximum and sharing rules apply for caregiving a critically ill adult (s.152.062(6)-(7) and s.152.14(1)(f), (5.2) replaced).

• Employers

  • No new reporting or compliance duties in the bill.
  • EI benefit expansions may affect future EI premium rates, but the bill does not set premiums. Data unavailable.

Expenses#

Estimated net cost: Data unavailable.

• The bill sets no direct appropriations. It changes eligibility limits and maximum weeks under EI (multiple sections amended).
• Likely fiscal effects include:
  • Higher EI payouts due to increasing critically ill adult caregiving from 15 to 26 weeks (s.12(3)(f), s.12(4.5)).
  • More total weeks paid when pregnancy/parental weeks no longer count toward the 50-week combined cap (s.12(6) amended).
  • Additional payouts enabled by extending benefit periods up to 26 weeks (s.10(13.02), s.23(3.22)).
• Administrative updates for Service Canada systems and guidance may be needed. Data unavailable.
• No official fiscal note or non-partisan costing provided in the text. Data unavailable.

Proponents' View#

• Lets parents use all the EI weeks they qualify for without losing weeks to the 50-week combined cap when pregnancy or parental benefits are involved (s.12(6) amended).
• Prevents claimants from timing out of benefits by allowing up to a 26-week extension of the benefit period to pay the full weeks owed (s.10(13.02), s.23(3.22) replaced; s.10(10)(c.1) added).
• Provides more support for families caring for critically ill adults by raising the maximum from 15 to 26 weeks and clarifying sharing rules (s.12(3)(f), s.12(4.5), s.23.3(6)-(7) replaced).
• Ensures self-employed participants receive the same improved caregiving weeks and sharing flexibility (s.152.062(6)-(7), s.152.14(1)(f), s.152.14(5.2) replaced).
• The changes are targeted and use existing EI structures, which may ease implementation compared to creating new programs (amendments within ss.10, 12, 23, 23.3, 152.062, 152.14).

Opponents' View#

• Expanding weeks and excluding pregnancy/parental weeks from the combined cap could increase EI program costs and create pressure to raise EI premiums for workers and employers. Magnitude unknown (s.12(6) amended; Data unavailable).
• Longer paid benefit durations may exceed 50 weeks when benefits are combined, which could strain employer staffing and complicate return-to-work planning. The bill does not address workplace impacts (s.12(6) amended).
• The new extension rules and exceptions may add administrative complexity and contribute to claim-processing delays or errors (s.10(13.02), s.23(3.22) replaced).
• Repealing existing provisions (e.g., s.12(7) and Schedule IV) without clear public explanation may remove safeguards or create uncertainty until regulations and guidance are updated (repeals).
• Benefits are expanded for certain groups (parents and adult caregivers). Others with different needs may not receive similar flexibility, raising equity concerns within EI special benefits (targeted amendments in ss.12, 23.3, 152.062, 152.14).