Bereavement Leave in Canada

Bereavement leave in Canada is governed by the Canada Labour Code for federally regulated workers, and by each province’s Employment Standards Act for everyone else. Entitlements vary, but most employees are entitled to at least a few days of paid leave. If you'd rather have a plan built around your situation, answer a few questions and we'll put one together →

Federally regulated employees

If you work in a federally regulated industry — banking, airlines, telecommunications, interprovincial transport, and others covered by the Canada Labour Code — you are entitled to:

• 3 days’ paid bereavement leave for the death of an immediate family member
• Up to 3 additional days’ unpaid leave

Immediate family under the Canada Labour Code includes: spouse or common-law partner; child (including adopted, foster, and step-child); parent (including step-parent, foster parent, in-law); grandparent; grandchild; and sibling.

By province and territory

Most Canadians are employed under provincial law. Minimum entitlements vary:

British Columbia

3 days’ paid bereavement leave for the death of an immediate family member under the BC Employment Standards Act.

Ontario

2 days’ paid bereavement leave per calendar year for the death of specified family members under the Employment Standards Act, 2000. Family includes spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, and in-laws.

Alberta

3 days’ paid bereavement leave after 90 days of employment for immediate family. Employees with less than 90 days’ service are entitled to unpaid leave.

Québec

1 day’s paid leave and 4 days’ unpaid leave for the death of a spouse, child, parent, sibling, or in-law. An additional 2 days’ unpaid leave for the death of a child under 18.

Saskatchewan

Up to 5 days’ bereavement leave for immediate family, with 3 days paid after 13 weeks of employment.

Manitoba, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, PEI, Newfoundland

Between 1 and 5 days depending on the province, with varying paid entitlements. Check your provincial Employment Standards Act for the current rules.

If you need more time

If you need extended time off, speak to your employer about compassionate or unpaid leave. Employment Insurance (EI) does not provide bereavement payments after a death — EI compassionate care benefits relate to caring for a critically ill person before death, not to bereavement itself.