Applying for Parental Leave

If you are the birth mother and wish to apply for parental leave after your maternity leave, you should do so at the time you apply for your maternity leave.  If you are the birth father, you should apply for parental leave from your department in writing, notifying them of the dates you expect to leave and return to work.  Your department will then notify Financial Services that you are going on leave.

Birth mothers are entitled to 35 weeks of unpaid parental leave, and birth fathers are entitled to up to 37 weeks of unpaid parental leave.

To coincide with EI weeks and avoid any possible loss of EI benefits:

• Staff: you should begin either type of leave on a Monday and end it on a Friday (return from the leave on a Monday).
• Faculty: you should begin either type of leave on a Sunday and end it on a Saturday (return from the leave on a Sunday).

Employment Insurance (EI)

You should apply for Employment Insurance (EI) Maternity/Parental Benefits from Human Resources and Skills Development Canada as soon as you receive your Record of Employment (ROE) from Financial Services. (Ensure that Financial Services has your current home address since they will mail the ROE after your last paycheque has been generated.)

Your ROE can also be picked up in person, either by making an appointment with your Financial Services Representative, or by proxy if they have a signed letter authorizing them to do so.

Details on applying for Employment Insurance Maternity/Parental Benefits can be found at Human Resources and Skills Development Canada.