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Changes to EI benefits rules

C-249 An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act (combined weeks of benefits rule and certain benefits)

Changes Employment Insurance rules for pregnancy, parental leave, and caring for critically ill adults.

What Bill C-249 would do

The bill would exempt pregnancy and parental benefits from the Employment Insurance rule that limits combined weeks of benefits. It would allow benefit periods to be extended for claimants receiving pregnancy or parental benefits. The bill would also raise the maximum weeks of benefits for people caring for critically ill adults from 15 weeks to 26 weeks.

Official text

Official summary

This enactment amends the Employment Insurance Act to provide that the combined weeks of benefits rule does not apply to benefits paid because of pregnancy or because the claimant is caring for their new-born child or a child placed with them for adoption. It also amends the Act to allow the extension of the benefit period for claimants who are in receipt of benefits paid because of pregnancy or parental benefits. Finally, it amends the Act to increase from fifteen to twenty-six the maximum number of weeks for which benefits may be paid to a claimant who is providing care or support to one or more critically ill adults.

The government's summary, printed at the front of the bill as introduced.

Kind
Private member's bill
Sponsor
Alexandre Boulerice, Member of Parliament (Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie)
Introduced
in the House of Commons
Last activity

Where it stands

  1. ProposedOct 21, 2025 Exact stageOutside the Order of Precedence · since October 21, 2025Introduced, but not debated yet.
  2. Being debated
  3. Almost law
  4. Law

Waiting its turn; not scheduled for debate

  1. First reading in the House done

    Before the House on 1 sitting day,

  2. Second reading in the House now

  3. Committee in the House not yet

  4. Report stage in the House not yet

  5. Third reading in the House not yet

  6. First reading in the Senate not yet

  7. Second reading in the Senate not yet

  8. Third reading in the Senate not yet

  9. Royal assent not yet

Exact procedural stages

Officially: Outside the Order of Precedence · since October 21, 2025.

  1. House
  2. Senate
  3. Royal assent

Debates in the House 0

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Status, stages and votes from LEGISinfo. Debates are linked from the House's own record of what was before it. Grades are the site's analysis of each statement.