C-222 · Relieving Grieving Parents of an Administrative Burden Act (Evan's Law)
An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act and the Canada Labour Code (death of a child)
- Amends Employment Insurance Act to allow continued benefits if a child dies during the benefit period.
- Extends bereavement leave for up to 10 weeks for parents after a child's death.
- Ensures self-employed persons can also maintain EI benefits under similar conditions.
This part of the bill allows parents to continue receiving employment insurance benefits and entitlements to leave if their child dies, without needing to file new claims or reports. However, this does not apply if the parent is convicted of a crime related to the child's death.
This matters because it provides financial support to grieving parents at a critical time, reducing administrative burdens during an emotionally challenging period. It highlights the government's recognition of the need for compassion in employment policies.
The bill addresses the challenge grieving parents face in accessing benefits after the loss of a child without having to go through cumbersome administrative processes.
Grieving parents who are entitled to these benefits gain easier access to financial support during their time of loss.
The tradeoff involves the potential for reduced oversight in benefit claims related to child deaths, as the administrative burden on parents is eased but may also lead to concerns about fraudulent claims in cases of crime.
Read the actual text (5)
1This Act may be cited as the Relieving Grieving Parents of an Administrative Burden Act (Evan's Law) .
2Section 23 of the Employment Insurance Act is amended by adding the following after subsection (2): (2.1) For the purposes of subsection (1), paragraphs 12(3)(b) and (4)(b) and subsection 12(4.01), if the child or children referred to in that subsection (1) die during the period referred to in subsection (2), the claimant is deemed to care for the child or children until that period expires. No report or new claim required (2.2) Despite any other provision of this Act, the claimant referred to in subsection (2.1) is not required to make a new claim for benefits or file a report to prove their eligibility to receive or continue to receive benefits. Exception (2.3) Subsection (2.1) does not apply if the child or children die as the result of the commission of an offence and the claimant is convicted of the offence.
3Section 152.05 of the Act is amended by adding the following after subsection (2): (2.1) For the purposes of subsection (1), paragraphs 152.14(1)(b) and (2)(b) and subsection 152.14(4), if the child or children referred to in that subsection (1) die during the period referred to in subsection (2), the self-employed person is deemed to care for the child or children until that period expires. No report or new claim required (2.2) Despite any other provision of this Act, the self-employed person referred to in subsection (2.1) is not required to make a new claim for benefits or file a report to prove their eligibility to receive or continue to receive benefits. Exception (2.3) Subsection (2.1) does not apply if the child or children die as the result of the commission of an offence and the self-employed person is convicted of the offence.
4Section 206 of the Canada Labour Code is amended by adding the following after subsection (3): (4) If a newborn child of an employee who is on a leave of absence from employment under this section dies during the period following the actual date of confinement that is provided for under subsection (1), the employee remains entitled to the period of leave she would have taken under this section had that child not died.
5Section 206.1 of the Act is amended by adding the following after subsection (2): (2.01) For the purposes of subsection (1), if the child dies during the period referred to in subsection (2), the employee is deemed to care for that child until that period expires.
Official drafter summary (parl.ca)
This enactment amends the Employment Insurance Act to provide that a person to whom employment insurance benefits are payable to care for a newborn child or a child placed with them for the purpose of adoption remains eligible to receive those benefits even if the child dies during the benefit period. It also amends the Canada Labour Code to extend the period of bereavement leave to which an employee is entitled in the event of the death of a child of the employee or of their spouse or common-law partner. Available on the House of Commons website at the following address: www.ourcommons.ca 1st Session, 45th Parliament, 3 - 4 Charles III, 2025 - 2026 HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA BILL C-222 An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act and the Canada Labour Code (death of a child) His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows: Short Title Short title 1 This Act may be cited as the Relieving Grieving Parents of an Administrative Burden Act (Evan’s Law) . 1996, c. 23 Employment Insurance Act 2 Section 23 of the Employment Insurance Act is amended by adding the following after subsection ( 2 ): Benefits still payable — death of child ( 2.1 ) For the purposes of subsection ( 1 ), paragraphs 12 ( 3 )(b) and ( 4 )(b) and subsection 12 ( 4.01 ), if the child or children referred to in that subsection ( 1 ) die during the period referred to in subsection ( 2 ), the claimant is deemed to care for the child or children until that period expires. No report or new claim required ( 2.2 ) Despite any other provision of this Act, the claimant referred to in subsection ( 2.1 ) is not required to make a new claim for benefits or file a report to prove their eligibility to receive or continue to receive benefits. Exception ( 2.3 ) Subsection ( 2.1 ) does not apply if the child or children die as the result of the commission of an offence and the claimant is convicted of the offence. 3 Section 152.05 of the Act is amended by adding the following after subsection ( 2 ): Benefits still payable — death of child ( 2.1 ) For the purposes of subsection ( 1 ), paragraphs 152.14 ( 1 )(b) and ( 2 )(b) and subsection 152.14 ( 4 ), if the child or children referred to in that subsection ( 1 ) die during the period referred to in subsection ( 2 ), the self-employed person is deemed to care for the child or children until that period expires. No report or new claim required ( 2.2 ) Despite any other provision of this Act, the self- employed person referred to in subsection ( 2.1 ) is not required to make a new claim for benefits or file a report to prove their eligibility to receive or continue to receive benefits. Exception ( 2.3 ) Subsection ( 2.1 ) does not apply if the child or children die as the result of the commission of an offence and the self-employed person is convicted of the offence. R.S., c. L-2 Canada Labour Code Amendments to the Act 4 [ Deleted ] 5 [ Deleted ] Start of inserted block 6 ( 1 ) Subsection 210 ( 1.01 ) of the Canada Labour Code is replaced by the following: End of inserted block Death of child Start of inserted block ( 1.01 ) Subject to subsection ( 1.011 ), every employee is entitled to and shall be granted, in the event of the death of a child of the employee or the death of a child of their spouse or common-law partner, a leave of absence from employment of up to 10 weeks that may be taken during the period that begins on the day on which the death occurs and ends 12 weeks after the latest of the days on which any funeral, burial or memorial service of the child occurs. End of inserted block Death of child — leave under section 206 Start of inserted block ( 1.011 ) Every employee is entitled to and shall be granted, in the event of the death of a child of the employee that occurs while the employee is on, or is entitled to be on, leave under section 206 in respect of that child, a leave of absence from employment of up to 10 weeks that may be taken during the period that begins on the day on which the death occurs and ends on the later of (a) 12 weeks after the latest of the days on which any funeral, burial or memorial service of the child occurs; and (b) 12 weeks after the end of the leave under section 206. ( 2 ) The portion of subsection 210 ( 1.02 ) of the Act before paragraph (a) is replaced by the following: End of inserted block Definition of child Start of inserted block ( 1.02 ) In subsections ( 1.01 ) and ( 1.011 ), child means End of inserted block Start of inserted block Transitional Provisions End of inserted block Canada Labour Code — section 210 Start of inserted block 7 ( 1 ) Section 210 of the Canada Labour Code , as amended by section 6, applies to an employee if, on the day on which section 6 comes into force, (a) the period during which the employee is entitled to take leave under subsection 210 ( 1.01 ) of that Act, as it read immediately before section 6 comes into force, has not ended; or (b)...
- Concerns about the need for a royal recommendation
- Skepticism about the Liberal government's role in EI reform
- Calls for broader amendments to cover more bereaved families
All parties showed support for the bill, with some criticisms of the government's broader EI inaction.
- First reading (House of Commons)Sep 18, 2025
- Second reading (House of Commons)Feb 4, 2026