This is considered unpaid time off unless your employer offers special benefits for parental and maternity leave. However, you may qualify for Federal Employment Insurance (EI).  These benefits also cover you if you are unable to work while you are pregnant. Further to that, EI parental benefits coverage is also available for parents to care for a newly adopted child. If you are considering pregnancy or parental leave, you should contact your local EI office to establish your specific qualification criteria. While expectant parents do have a choice of taking 12 or 18 months off to spend with their new child, the total EI benefit has limitations. Parents opting to take advantage of the 18 month leave will only receive their 12 month entitlement. The parental leave equivalent will be stretched and paid out over the extra 6 months.