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As an employee working in Canada through Justworks, you’re covered by public and private programs that protect your health, income, and overall wellbeing.
These programs ensure you can access healthcare, take protected time off when you’re ill or on holiday, and receive income support when caring for your family.
This series of guides explains your Canadian benefits and leave entitlements in clear, straightforward language, based on official sources from Canada.ca and Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).
What You’ll Find in This Series:
- Health, Benefits, and Pension Coverage — Learn about Canada’s public healthcare system, Justworks’ supplemental Sun Life coverage, and how contributions to Employment Insurance (EI) and the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) support you.
- Leave and Sick Pay — Understand your rights to vacation leave, paid holidays, and sick pay, plus how EI Sickness Benefits can help when you’re unable to work.
- Family and Parental Leave — Explore your entitlements to maternity, parental, and caregiving leave, and learn how to apply for Employment Insurance (EI) benefits.
As an employee working in Canada through Justworks, you’re supported by a combination of public programs and private benefits that help protect your health, income, and financial future.
This guide explains how healthcare, supplemental insurance, and retirement contributions work for Justworks employees in Canada. All information is based on official government sources, including Canada.ca and Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).
Public Health Coverage in Canada
Canada’s healthcare system is publicly funded and provides residents with access to most essential medical services free of charge at the point of use. Healthcare is administered by each province or territory, meaning coverage and registration steps can vary depending on where you live.
Public plans typically cover:
- Doctor visits and consultations
- Hospital stays and medical procedures
- Emergency care and maternity services
Not all services are covered:
Many provinces do not fully cover:
- Prescription drugs (outside hospitals)
- Dental or vision care
- Paramedical services such as physiotherapy, chiropractic, or massage therapy
You must register for your provincial health card to access services. Each province manages its own plan:
- Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP)
- British Columbia Medical Services Plan (MSP)
- Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP)
- Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ)
You can apply online, by mail, or in person at a provincial health office or Service Centre. For detailed information on how to register, visit your province’s official health website (e.g., ServiceOntario, Health Alberta, RAMQ).
Tip: Once registered, keep your provincial health card with you. You’ll need it whenever you visit a doctor, clinic, or hospital.
Supplemental Health Coverage through Justworks
To help fill the gaps in public healthcare, Justworks partners with Sun Life to provide supplemental private insurance to employees in Canada.
Your supplemental plan may include coverage for:
- Prescription medications
- Dental care (cleanings, exams, fillings)
- Vision care (glasses and eye exams)
- Mental health and counseling services
- Paramedical care (such as physiotherapy or chiropractic treatment)
This private insurance complements public healthcare and helps reduce out-of-pocket costs for everyday health needs.
Note: You’ll receive details about your specific plan and coverage limits during onboarding.
Employment Insurance (EI)
The Employment Insurance (EI) program provides temporary income support if you lose your job, take time off for illness or injury, or need to care for a family member. Both you and your employer contribute to EI through payroll deductions.
EI benefits include:
- Regular Benefits – if you lose your job through no fault of your own
- Sickness Benefits – up to 26 weeks if you can’t work due to illness or injury
- Maternity and Parental Benefits – when welcoming a new child
- Caregiving Benefits – for supporting critically ill family members
The Maximum Insurable Earning for 2025 is $65,700. This means that any income above $65,700 is not subject to EI contributions, and if you ever need to claim EI benefits, the amount of your EI payments is calculated based on this maximum limit.
You can apply for EI benefits online through My Service Canada Account.
Tip: Apply for EI as soon as your work ends or your leave begins — waiting longer than 4 weeks may reduce your benefit eligibility.
NB. Quebec has a provincial program called Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) that provides income replacement benefits to parents during maternity, paternity, parental, and adoption leave. QPIP replaces the parental and maternity benefits portion of EI for workers in Quebec.
Canada Pension Plan (CPP)
The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) provides income when you retire or if you become disabled. It also offers survivor benefits to your spouse or dependents.
Both you and your employer contribute to CPP through automatic payroll deductions. Contributions are mandatory for most employees aged 18 to 70.
- Contribution rate: 5.95% of your pensionable earnings
- Annual maximum (2025) : $4,430.10, including CPP (basic deduction) and CPP2 (additional deduction introduced in 2024).
- Retirement age: You can start receiving your CPP pension as early as 60 or as late as 70
You can check your CPP contributions or estimate your retirement benefits at Canada Pension Plan – Overview.
Tip: Deferring your CPP past age 65 increases your monthly payment.
NB. Quebec has a different provincial system called Quebec Pension Plan (QPP). Quebec’s provincial pension plan is similar to the CPP, providing retirement, disability, and survivor benefits funded by contributions from workers and employers in Quebec.
The annual maximum employee contribution for QPP is $4,735.20, including QPP (basic deduction) and QPP2 (additional deduction introduced in 2024).
Life Insurance and Other Supplemental Benefits
Through Justworks, employees in Canada are also covered by group life insurance provided via Sun Life.
This coverage helps protect your loved ones by paying a lump-sum benefit to your chosen beneficiary in the event of your death. You’ll have the option to designate your beneficiary during onboarding.
Additional coverage may include:
- Accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance
- Long-term disability (LTD) protection for extended illness or injury
These benefits are not required by law but are included in Justworks’ supplemental package to provide additional financial security. (if applicable)
Note: If your company is offering these benefits, you’ll receive details about Life Insurance and Other Supplemental benefits during onboarding.
Public Holidays in Canada
Employees are entitled to paid time off on these days or premium pay if required to work.
You can find below the public holidays for your province:
- Alberta: Public Holidays
- British Columbia: Public Holidays
- Manitoba: Public Holidays
- New Brunswick: Public Holidays
- Newfoundland and Labrador: Public Holidays
- Northwest Territories: Public Holidays
- Nova Scotia: Public Holidays
- Nunavut: Public Holidays
- Ontario: Public Holidays
- Prince Edward Island: Public Holidays
- Quebec: Public Holidays
- Saskatchewan: Public Holidays
- Yukon: Public Holidays
Key Takeaways
- Public healthcare in Canada covers most essential medical services but excludes many prescription, dental, and vision costs.
- Justworks provides supplemental health insurance through Sun Life to help bridge those gaps.
- Both you and your employer contribute to Employment Insurance (EI) and the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), which provide income protection and retirement benefits.
- Life insurance and additional coverage options (AD&D and LTD) offer extra financial security.
- Public holidays vary by province — check your location’s official holiday calendar for details
Need Help?
For more information, visit Canada.ca – Employment and Social Development or contact international-support@justworks.com for help understanding your benefits.
Disclaimer
This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for accounting, legal or tax advice. If you have any legal or tax questions regarding this content or related issues, then you should consult with your professional legal or tax advisor.