9.6 Leave of absence for family or parental reasons

LEAVE OF ABSENCE REASON

LABOUR STANDARDS

Marriage or common-law union

1 day with pay

Marriage or common-law union (immediate family: child, father, mother, brother, sister, or spouse's child)

1 day without pay

Birth (father and mother, except if already on maternity leave)
Adoption of a child

Total of 5 days, including 2 days with pay (prerequisite of 60 days of continuous service, otherwise 2 days without pay) and 3 days without pay

End of pregnancy on or after the 20th week

Total of 5 days, including 2 days with pay (prerequisite of 60 days of continuous service, otherwise 2 days without pay) and 3 days without pay

Paternity leave (birth only)

Maximum of 5 weeks without pay ending no later than 78 weeks after the birth. Paternity leave may be suspended if the child is hospitalized.

Maternity leave (birth only)

Maximum of 18 continuous weeks or more, if the employer agrees, and minimum of 2 weeks if delivery is after the due date. The leave must be taken between the 16th week before delivery and the 20th week after delivery. Maternity leave may be suspended if the child is hospitalized

Parental leave (birth or adoption)

Maximum of 52 weeks without pay ending no later than 78 weeks after the event. Parental leave may be suspended if the child is hospitalized.

Risk of end of pregnancy or health risk for the mother or unborn child

For the duration prescribed in the medical certificate, without pay. The medical certificate must specify the condition of the mother or the child and the expected date of delivery. Deemed a maternity leave as of the 4th week prior to the due date

End of pregnancy before the beginning of the 20th week

Special maternity leave of a maximum period of 3 weeks, unpaid, unless a medical certificate attests that an extension is necessary.

End of pregnancy after the beginning of the 20th week

Special maternity leave of a maximum of 18 continuous weeks without pay, ending no later than 20 weeks after the week of end of pregnancy.

After delivery, if required for the health of the mother or child

Possible extension of maternity leave for the period indicated on the medical certificate if the state of health of the mother or the child so requires. Possible extension of paternity leave or parental leave if the state of health of the child so requires.

Custody, health, education of own child or spouse's child, or health condition of spouse or close relative¹

10 days, without pay

Serious illness or serious accident of own child, spouse's child, spouse, or close relative¹ (prerequisite of 3 months of continuous service)

16 weeks over a period of 12 months, without pay. When it comes to a minor child, the duration of the leave is at most 36 weeks, over a period of 12 months.

Serious, potentially fatal illness of a close relative¹, other than the minor child, or a person for whom the member acts as a caregiver

27 weeks over a period of 12 months, without pay, if the condition is attested by a medical certificate.

Serious, potentially fatal illness of member's minor child (prerequisite of 3 months of continuous service)

The 12-week leave of absence may be extended, without pay, to 104 weeks, after the beginning of the leave of absence if the condition is attested by a medical certificate.

Disappearance of a member's minor child or death resulting from suicide of a member's child or spouse.

52 weeks without pay (if the child is found before the end of this period, the leave of absence will end on the 11th day that follows)

Serious bodily injury suffered by a member's minor child as a result of a criminal act, or death of the spouse or child of a member as a result of such an act.

104 weeks without pay, subject to certain limitations if the member’s spouse or adult child is involved in the criminal act.

Death or funeral (immediate family²)

1 paid day + 4 days without pay

Death or funeral (distant family³)

1 day without pay

Reservists ― Canadian forces operations

Maximum of 18 months for foreign operations (prerequisite of 12 months of continuous service). Maximum of 15 days to take part in annual training as a reservist. Other leaves may apply depending of the type of operations and related regulations adopted.