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

This bill affects employers across all industries and provinces in Canada whose employees access Employment Insurance benefits. Businesses with employees who take maternity or parental leave would see those workers potentially accessing longer or more flexible benefit periods, which could extend the duration of their absence from the workplace. Employers with staff who need to care for critically ill adult family members would also face longer potential absences, up to 26 weeks instead of 15. Small businesses and sole proprietors who are self-employed and have opted into EI would also be directly impacted, as the changes apply to self-employed persons' claims as well, making it easier to combine different types of leave without hitting the benefits cap.