All 10 Canadian provinces now provide job-protected leave for employees who require extended time away from work due to serious illness or injury, following the introduction of new legislation in New Brunswick.
The legislative change marks a significant milestone in strengthening employment protections across Canada, ensuring that workers facing serious medical conditions such as cancer can take extended unpaid leave without the risk of losing their jobs.
New Brunswick became the final province to adopt long-term job-protected medical leave after passing legislation in June that allows eligible employees to take up to 27 weeks of unpaid leave for illness or injury recovery. Previously, workers in the province were entitled to only five days of unpaid sick leave.
With the new law in place, every province now offers between 26 and 27 weeks of job-protected unpaid medical leave, providing employees with greater security while recovering from serious health conditions.
Quebec was the first province to introduce long-term medical leave provisions more than two decades ago. Most other provinces have implemented similar protections only within the past two years as governments responded to growing concerns about income security and employment protection for seriously ill workers.
The nationwide expansion follows changes introduced by the federal government in 2022, when Ottawa extended unpaid medical leave for federally regulated employees from 17 to 27 weeks. At the same time, Employment Insurance (EI) sickness benefits were expanded from 15 weeks to 26 weeks, providing additional financial support for workers unable to work because of illness.
The Canadian Cancer Society, which has long advocated for stronger protections for individuals diagnosed with serious illnesses, welcomed the completion of nationwide legislative reforms. The organization described the changes as a major victory for Canadian workers, saying they provide greater peace of mind by allowing employees to focus on treatment and recovery without fearing the loss of their employment.
The harmonization of long-term medical leave provisions across all provinces represents an important advancement in workplace rights and reflects growing recognition of the challenges faced by Canadians coping with prolonged illness or injury.