Following the Canadian Medical Association’s 2024 recommendation, most provinces are reducing or eliminating the need for medical notes for short-term illnesses to ease pressure on healthcare and prevent unnecessary doctor visits.

 

The common trend is a move towards self-certification for short absences and stricter limits on when employers can request documentation. Employers are still allowed to request medical notes for absences longer than the statutorily-limited periods.

 

These changes also do not affect an employer’s ability to request medical information to manage workplace accommodations and an employee’s return to work. This should be reflected in your employee policies.

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Federal (Canada Labour Code)

• Sick notes only if absence is >5 consecutive working days.

 

Ontario

• Since Oct 28, 2024, employers cannot require a doctor’s note for the first 3 unpaid sick days per year under the Employment Standards Act.

• June 19, 2025: New rules for long-term illness leave were applied.

 

British Columbia

• Bill 11 (Nov 12, 2025** New**):

  • After an employee has been employed for 90 consecutive days, they are entitled to take up to five days of paid leave and three days of unpaid leave for personal illness or injury.

  • No sick notes for two short-term absences (≤5 days) per calendar year.

  • Notes allowed only for third absence or if leave exceeds 5 consecutive days.

  • Employers may request “reasonably sufficient proof” (not necessarily a doctor’s note).

 

Alberta

• Employees who have worked for the same employer for at least 90 days are entitled to:

  • Up to 16 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per calendar year for personal illness, injury, or quarantine, and

  • 5 days of unpaid, job-protected leave per calendar year to attend to personal health needs or to meet family responsibilities (e.g., caring for a child or dependent).

• No legislative restrictions on sick notes; employers may still request notes if reasonable.

 

Saskatchewan

• Bill 5 (Jan 1, 2026 **New**):

  • Long-term sick leave expands to 27 weeks (aligning with EI benefits), but short-term entitlement remains 12 days per year for minor illness.

  • Sick notes only if absence is >5 consecutive days, or

  • Two or more non-consecutive absences of 2+ days in previous 12 months, or

  • The employee has taken more than 7 days of sick leave in the previous 12 months.

 

Manitoba

• Bill 202 (Nov 2025 **New**):

• Employees who have worked for the same employer for at least 30 days are entitled to up to 3 unpaid days per calendar year for personal illness or family responsibilities.

• Up to 27 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for serious illness or injury

• Sick notes only:

  • After 7 consecutive calendar days of absence, or

  • The employee has taken more than 7 days of sick leave in the previous 12 months, or

  • There is a noticeable pattern of absences creating reasonable doubt about illness/injury.

  • The note can be provided by a doctor, nurse practitioner, nurse, or pharmacist.

  • Employers must reimburse the employee for any fee charged to obtain the note (if no pattern of absences exists)

 

Québec

• Bill 68 (Jan 1, 2025):

• Employees who have worked at least 3 months for the same employer are entitled to;

  • 2 paid sick days per calendar year.

  • up to 26 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave in a 12-month period for illness, injury, or related health reasons.

• Employers cannot request medical documentation for the first three absences of up to 3 consecutive days in a 12-month period.

• Also applies to absences for caregiving.

 

Nova Scotia

• Employers cannot request a sick note unless absence is >5 working days or employee had two prior short absences in the past 12 months.

 

New Brunswick

• No sick notes for absences of ≤5 days, unless employee had two such absences in the previous year.

 

Newfoundland & Labrador

• Requirement for medical certificates for 3+ consecutive days has been eliminated.

• New provision: up to 27 weeks unpaid sick leave for long-term illness (medical certificate required for long-term cases).

 

Prince Edward Island

• Sick notes only after 3 consecutive days; not allowed for single-day absences.

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As an employer, what actions should you take?

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• Update policies to reflect provincial rules.

• Avoid requesting notes for short absences—risk of non-compliance and employee complaints.

• Train managers on province-specific requirements.

• Consider alternatives to medical notes when managing short-term absences, including:

• a signed declarations from the employee (“self-­certification”). We will soon be releasing more information on self-certification.

• employee check-ins or return-to-work interviews, and

• offering accrued sick leave days, flexible wellness days or personal leave days that do not require a medical note.