After N.B. law, all 10 provinces now have job protection for long-term sick leave

FREDERICTON — With New Brunswick’s new unpaid sick leave law, all 10 provinces in Canada now have some sort of job protection for people who need extended time off for serious illnesses.

From British Columbia to Newfoundland and Labrador, people with illnesses such as cancer can take up to 26 or 27 weeks of unpaid leave without fear of losing their job.

New Brunswick was the last province to increase job protection for workers.

In June, the government adopted a law allowing up to 27 weeks of unpaid leave for illness and injury recovery — up from five days.