The Canada Labour Code (Part III) provides job protection to employees under federal jurisdiction to ensure that an EI eligible worker can take up to 27 weeks of compassionate care leave, with 26 weeks EI compassionate care benefits plus a 1 week waiting period, to provide care and support to a family member if a medical certificate is issued.
Compassionate leave is leave granted to employees who need to be away from work to care for or support a critically ill or injured person or someone needing end-of-life care. Who Qualifies for Compassionate Leave?
As an employee, you can take up to 28 weeks of compassionate care leave within a 52-week period to look after a family member who has a serious medical condition with a significant risk of death. The leave begins during one of the following weeks, whichever occurs first: the week the health care practitioner signs the medical certificate