Parental leave

You are entitled to parental leave following the birth of a child, or upon welcoming a child for the first time into your custody. Parental leave is available to both parents, including parents who adopt a child and individuals who are in a permanent relationship with a parent of a child and who intend to adopt and treat the child as their own.

You are eligible for up to 63 weeks of parental leave. However, if you take maternity leave, you are eligible for up to 61 weeks of parental leave, which must begin immediately following your maternity leave. If you do not take maternity leave, parental leave may begin no more than 78 weeks after the day the child is born or comes into your custody and care for the first time.

Benefit payable

During the first eighteen (18) weeks, which includes the waiting period (if applicable), the University shall pay to the employee the difference between:

• 95% of the employee's regular base salary, and
• The maximum level of the applicable government program available to any person whose salary corresponds to the employee’s salary.

The balance of your parental leave is considered leave without pay.

To receive benefit payments from the University, as described above, you must provide evidence that you have applied for and been approved for parental leave benefits under the Employment Insurance Act, and disclose the benefit amount you will receive from Employment Insurance.

During the first 18 weeks of parental leave, you and the University continue to pay your full regular contributions for group insurance benefits and staff pension, since you maintain coverage during this period. After 18 weeks of leave , you can choose to participate in the group insurance benefits and staff pension by continuing to pay your required contributions. If you choose to contribute during this period, the University continues to pay the employer contributions and your coverage is maintained.