Maternity leave in Canada: how long, how much, and your rights
Two separate things make up "maternity leave" in Canada: the benefits that pay you, and the leave that protects your job. Here are both, with the 2026 numbers.
Updated October 13, 2026 · sources checked October 13, 2026
In short
Outside Québec, Employment Insurance pays up to 15 weeks of maternity benefits at 55% of your earnings, to a maximum of $729 a week in 2026, then up to 35 weeks of standard (55%) or 61 weeks of extended (33%, maximum $437) parental benefits per parent. You need 600 insured hours. Your province protects your job for the same period.
Two parts: the money and the job
In Canada, "maternity leave" is really two things that work side by side:
- Benefits that pay you. Employment Insurance (EI) maternity and parental benefits, run by Service Canada. In Québec, the Québec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) pays instead: see Québec's QPIP explained.
- Leave that protects your job. Your provincial employment standards law gives you the right to take unpaid leave and come back to the same or an equivalent job.
You usually qualify for both, but the rules are separate.
How long is maternity leave in Canada?
| EI benefits (paid) | Ontario leave (job-protected) | British Columbia | Alberta | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pregnancy / maternity | Up to 15 weeks | Up to 17 weeks | Up to 17 weeks | 16 weeks |
| Parental, birth parent | Up to 35 weeks (standard) or 61 weeks (extended) | Up to 61 weeks | Up to 61 weeks | Up to 62 weeks |
| Parental, other parent | Same; 40 or 69 weeks if shared | Up to 63 weeks | Up to 62 weeks | Up to 62 weeks |
Benefit figures from Canada.ca and leave figures from Ontario's Employment Standards guide, B.C.'s Employment Standards Act and Alberta's official page, as of October 2026. Alberta explains that its leaves are one week longer than EI benefits "in recognition of the waiting period", the first unpaid week of a claim.
In practice, for one birth parent:
- Standard option: 15 weeks of maternity + 35 weeks of parental = 50 paid weeks, about 12 months including the unpaid waiting week.
- Extended option: 15 + 61 = 76 paid weeks, about 18 months.
How much does maternity leave pay in 2026?
| Benefit | Rate | Maximum per week in 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Maternity | 55% of average insurable weekly earnings | $729 |
| Standard parental | 55% | $729 |
| Extended parental | 33% | $437 |
The maximum comes from the 2026 maximum insurable earnings of $68,900 a year, as set by the Canada Revenue Agency. If you earn more, you receive the maximum.
Quick examples at 55%, before tax: average weekly earnings of $600 give $330 a week; $1,000 give $550; $1,325 or more give the $729 maximum. Your average is based on your best weeks of earnings, between 14 and 22 weeks depending on your region's unemployment rate. EI benefits are taxable.
For full details and the Family Supplement for lower-income families, see EI maternity and parental benefits in 2026.
Who qualifies?
Canada.ca lists these conditions:
- 600 insured hours of work in the 52 weeks before your claim starts.
- Your regular weekly earnings have dropped by more than 40% for at least one week.
- For maternity benefits, you are pregnant or have recently given birth.
Maternity benefits can start as early as 12 weeks before your due date and cannot be paid more than 17 weeks after your due date or the birth, whichever is later. Standard parental benefits must be taken within 52 weeks of the birth, extended within 78 weeks.
Job protection by province
- Ontario: 17 weeks of pregnancy leave if you started your job at least 13 weeks before your due date; parental leave of 61 weeks (63 for other parents), after 13 weeks of employment. At least 2 weeks' written notice. Details in maternity leave in Ontario.
- British Columbia: up to 17 consecutive weeks of maternity leave, which can start up to 13 weeks before the expected birth, and up to 61 or 62 weeks of parental leave, with a combined limit of 78 weeks. A written request at least 4 weeks before.
- Alberta: 16 weeks of maternity leave and up to 62 weeks of parental leave after 90 days with the same employer. Written notice at least 6 weeks before.
- Federally regulated employers (banks, airlines, telecoms and similar) follow the Canada Labour Code. Other provinces have their own rules: ask your employment standards office.
For single parents, self-employed parents and newcomers
- Single parent: you can take all the maternity and parental weeks available to one parent. The sharing bonus requires two parents. In Québec, QPIP adds exclusive single-parent weeks.
- Self-employed outside Québec: EI special benefits are opt-in, and your agreement must be active for 12 months before you can claim. See maternity benefits for self-employed parents.
- Newcomer: EI depends on insured hours worked in Canada, not on citizenship. If you have 600 insured hours, you can qualify.
How to apply, in order
- Give your employer written notice of your leave dates.
- Your employer issues your Record of Employment (ROE).
- Apply online for EI as soon as you stop working, and no later than 4 weeks after your last day of work.
- Keep the 4-digit access code that arrives by mail, and open My Service Canada Account.
- Expect your first payment about 28 days after you apply.
Step-by-step help is in how to apply for EI maternity benefits.
Before you choose standard or extended, use the EI benefits estimator on Canada.ca with your real earnings. Talk it through with your partner: the choice applies to both parents.
Questions parents ask
Is maternity leave paid in Canada?
The leave itself is unpaid by your employer unless your contract says otherwise, but Employment Insurance pays maternity and parental benefits if you have 600 insured hours. In Québec, the Québec Parental Insurance Plan pays them instead.
Can I take 18 months of maternity leave in Canada?
Yes, by combining 15 weeks of maternity benefits with up to 61 weeks of extended parental benefits at 33% of earnings. Your province's job-protected leave in Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta reaches about 78 weeks in total.
Can both parents be off at the same time?
Yes. Parental benefits can be shared and taken at the same time or one after the other. Sharing adds 5 extra weeks (standard) or 8 extra weeks (extended) to the total.
Do I get paid for the first week?
No. Canada.ca states that there is one week at the start of a claim for which you will not be paid.
Sources
- Government of Canada — EI maternity and parental benefits, what these benefits offer checked October 13, 2026
- Government of Canada — EI maternity and parental benefits, eligibility checked October 13, 2026
- Government of Canada — EI maternity and parental benefits, how much you could receive checked October 13, 2026
- Ontario — Your guide to the Employment Standards Act, pregnancy and parental leave checked October 13, 2026
- Alberta — Maternity and parental leave checked October 13, 2026
- British Columbia — Employment Standards Act, sections 50 and 51 (BC Laws) checked October 13, 2026
Mamavela explains; it does not replace your midwife, doctor or pediatrician, who know your situation. If something worries you, call them. In an emergency, call 911 (US), 999 (UK) or 112.