Temporary Employment Insurance Relief Extended Through October 2026

On March 20, 2026, the federal government announced a third extension of the temporary Employment Insurance (EI) relief measures introduced in response to the impact of U.S. tariffs.

Extended EI Relief Measures

As reported in our previous FTR Now, temporary EI relief measures were introduced in April 2025 to support workers and employers dealing with adverse economic consequences related to the ongoing trade dispute with the United States. These temporary measures, outlined below, have now been extended to October 10, 2026:

a suspension of allocation and repayment rules for separation-related payments
the waiver of the one-week waiting period for all EI claims
an additional 20 weeks of EI benefits for eligible “long-tenured workers”

(Note: The additional EI benefits for “long-tenured workers” were introduced later, in June 2025.)

Another measure that had temporarily increased regional unemployment rates expired in October 2025. As a result, the standard regional unemployment rates under the Employment Insurance Regulations have resumed effect.

Conclusion

With these temporary EI relief measures now extended, organizations may wish to review their employment practices and EI‑related processes to ensure they reflect the updated timelines. Should you have questions about how these extensions apply to your organization or workforce, please contact a member of the firm’s Pensions, Benefits and Compensation practice group or your local Hicks Morley lawyer.

The article in this client update provides general information and should not be relied on as legal advice or opinion. This publication is copyrighted by Hicks Morley Hamilton Stewart Storie LLP and may not be photocopied or reproduced in any form, in whole or in part, without the express permission of Hicks Morley Hamilton Stewart Storie LLP. ©