Parental leave in Ontario gives eligible new parents up to 61 or 63 weeks of unpaid, job-protected time away from work after the birth or adoption of a child.
A parent who took pregnancy leave can take up to 61 weeks of parental leave. Other eligible parents can take up to 63 weeks. You must have been employed by your employer for at least 13 weeks before your parental leave begins.
Ontario parental leave protects your time away and your job. EI parental benefits are separate and can provide income while you are off work. Don’t assume the number of EI weeks you choose determines how much job-protected leave you have.
On This Page:
- 1. How Long Is Parental Leave?
- 2. Who Qualifies?
- 3. Parental Leave Pay & EI
- 4. Can Both Parents Take Leave?
- 5. Starting, Ending & Notice
- 6. Job Protection & Returning to Work
- 7. FAQs
How Long Is Parental Leave in Ontario?
Ontario parental leave lasts up to 61 weeks if you also took pregnancy leave and up to 63 weeks if you did not.
| Employee | Maximum Parental Leave |
|---|---|
| Parent who also took pregnancy leave | 61 weeks |
| Other eligible parent | 63 weeks |
You don’t have to take the maximum amount.
Can a birth parent take 18 months off?
Yes, approximately. A birth parent can normally combine up to 17 weeks of Ontario maternity or pregnancy leave with up to 61 weeks of parental leave.
That creates up to 78 weeks of job-protected leave in the usual case.
Do you have to take parental leave all at once?
Yes, once Ontario parental leave begins, it must normally be taken as one continuous period.
If you return to work early, even on a part-time basis, you can lose the right to resume the unused portion of that Employment Standards Act parental leave later.
Who Qualifies for Parental Leave in Ontario?
You qualify for parental leave if you are an eligible parent and have been employed by your employer for at least 13 weeks before the leave starts.
You don’t need to have actively worked throughout those 13 weeks. Time on vacation, sick leave, layoff or pregnancy leave can still count.
Parental leave can apply to:
- Birth parents
- Fathers and other non-birthing parents
- Adoptive parents
- A person in a relationship of some permanence with a child’s parent who intends to treat the child as their own
Do part-time employees qualify?
Yes. Parental leave can apply to full-time, part-time, permanent and fixed-term employees who meet the ESA requirements.
Is there a separate paternity leave in Ontario?
No. Ontario does not have a separate statutory leave called paternity leave.
Fathers and other non-birthing parents use parental leave. See our Paternity Leave Ontario guide for the rules and EI questions specifically relevant to fathers and non-birthing parents.
Is Parental Leave Paid in Ontario?
Ontario employers don’t normally have to pay wages during parental leave, but eligible parents can receive federal EI parental benefits.
| EI Option | Benefit Rate | Maximum for One Parent | Maximum When Shared |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | 55% | 35 weeks | 40 weeks |
| Extended | 33% | 61 weeks | 69 weeks |
For claims beginning in 2026:
- Standard parental benefits pay up to $729 per week
- Extended parental benefits pay up to $437 per week
Who qualifies for EI parental benefits?
You generally need:
- At least 600 insured hours during your qualifying period
- A reduction of more than 40% in your regular weekly earnings for at least one week
- To be caring for your newborn or newly adopted child
Each parent applying for EI benefits must qualify separately.
Can you change from standard to extended EI later?
Not after parental benefits have started being paid. Once Service Canada pays a week of parental benefits to you, or to the other parent when benefits are shared, the choice between standard and extended benefits is normally locked in.
Can Both Parents Take Parental Leave in Ontario?
Yes. Each eligible parent has their own right to Ontario parental leave.
Parents can take their job-protected leaves:
- At the same time
- At different times
- For different lengths of time
One parent taking parental leave does not reduce the other parent’s ESA leave entitlement.
Do parents have to share EI benefits?
EI parental benefits work differently from Ontario parental leave.
Under the standard option, parents can share up to 40 benefit weeks, but one parent can receive no more than 35.
Under the extended option, parents can share up to 69 weeks, but one parent can receive no more than 61.
The extra five standard weeks or eight extended weeks encourage parents to share benefits. They are not a separate Ontario “paternity leave.”
When Can You Start Parental Leave?
Parental leave must begin no later than 78 weeks after the child is born or first comes into your custody, care and control.
A birth parent who takes pregnancy leave normally starts parental leave immediately when pregnancy leave ends.
How much notice do you need to give?
You must normally give your employer at least two weeks’ written notice before parental leave begins.
It is a good idea to tell your employer both your start date and how much leave you intend to take.
If you don’t specify how long you plan to be away, your employer can assume you are taking the full 61 or 63 weeks.
What if the child arrives earlier than expected?
If the child comes into your care earlier than expected and you have to stop working immediately, your parental leave can begin when you stop work.
You must then give your employer written notice within two weeks.
Can you return to work early?
Yes, but you normally need to give at least four weeks’ written notice before your earlier return date.
Your employer can agree to a shorter notice period.
Is Your Job Protected During Parental Leave?
Yes. Your employer can’t threaten, fire, demote or penalize you because you take or plan to take protected parental leave.
While you are away, your ESA rights generally include:
- Continued credit for length of employment, service and seniority
- Continued participation in qualifying benefit plans
- Required employer contributions to those plans if you continue your share
- The right to return to your previous or a comparable position
Do you get the same job back?
Your employer must normally return you to the job you held before leave or a comparable position if that job genuinely no longer exists.
Your pay must be at least as high as it was before leave, including wage increases you would have received if you had remained at work.
If your employer changes your pay, hours, responsibilities or position, see our guide to returning to work after maternity leave.
Can you be fired during parental leave?
Your employer can’t fire you because you took parental leave.
A genuine termination for a reason completely unrelated to the leave can still occur, such as a legitimate business closure or restructuring.
If your employer tells you that your job has been eliminated while you are away, see our Fired During Maternity Leave Ontario guide. The same core protections apply when an employee is legally on parental leave.
What if your employer refuses to return you to your job?
A refusal to properly reinstate you can raise ESA reprisal, human-rights and constructive dismissal issues.
Samfiru Tumarkin LLP helps non-unionized Ontario employees challenge illegal terminations and return-to-work violations and secure the full severance pay and compensation they are owed—as much as 24 months’ pay.
Parental Leave Ontario FAQs
How long is parental leave in Ontario?
Up to 61 weeks if you also took pregnancy leave and up to 63 weeks otherwise.
How long do you need to work before qualifying?
You must have been employed by your employer for at least 13 weeks before parental leave begins.
Is parental leave paid?
The Ontario ESA leave is unpaid. Eligible parents can separately receive EI parental benefits.
Can both parents take 63 weeks?
Each eligible parent has an independent Ontario leave entitlement. A parent who did not take pregnancy leave can take up to 63 weeks. A birth parent who took pregnancy leave can take up to 61 weeks.
Can parents take parental leave at the same time?
Yes. Ontario does not require one parent to return to work before the other parent begins their leave.
Can adoptive parents take parental leave?
Yes. Adoptive parents can qualify once the child comes into their custody, care and control, even if the adoption has not yet been legally finalized.
Can my employer make me return early?
No. Your employer can’t force you to cut short a properly taken ESA parental leave.
Can I be fired for taking parental leave?
No. Your employer can’t punish or terminate you because you properly exercise your parental-leave rights.
Parental leave gives eligible Ontario parents substantial job-protected time to care for a new child. Keep your ESA leave and EI benefits separate, give proper written notice and don’t assume an employer can change your job simply because you were away.
Samfiru Tumarkin LLP helps non-unionized Ontario employees whose parental-leave or return-to-work rights have been violated challenge their employer and secure the severance pay and other compensation they are owed.