Severance & Job Loss
4 guides on severance & job loss for Canadians — newest first.
EI Eligibility in Canada 2026: The Exact Insurable Hours You Need by Region (and the Newcomer Trap)
How many insurable hours do you need for EI in 2026? 420–700 for regular benefits depending on your region's unemployment rate. 600 fixed for special benefits. Plus the newcomer trap: foreign work history doesn't count.
13 min readOntario Self-Employed Contractor Opting Into EI in 2026 on $78,000 Net Income: $1,049 Annual Premium, Maternity Benefit Eligibility After 12 Months, and the Break-Even Calculator Before You Commit
Self-employed EI opt-in math for an Ontario contractor earning $78,000 net in 2026. $1,049 annual premium, 12-month waiting period for maternity/parental benefits, $728/week maximum payout, and the break-even vs....
13 min readCanada EI Benefits 2026 for Self-Employed Ontarians: $68,900 Insurable Earnings Cap, $728/Week Maximum, and a 5-Year Cost-Benefit Calculator for a $110,000 Freelance Consultant
Cost-benefit analysis of opting into EI special benefits as a self-employed Ontario consultant earning $110,000. Annual premium of $1,123, maximum 26-week sickness benefit of $18,928, 50% premium deductibility, and the...
12 min read readOntario Tech Worker Laid Off in 2026 Earning $95,000: EI Benefit Rate, 45-Week Maximum, and the Severance Delay Trap Explained
A $95,000 Ontario tech worker laid off in 2026 gets $728/week on EI — but a 12-week severance package delays the start by 12 weeks. Step-by-step EI math, the high-earner clawback at $79,000, and the 3 filing actions to...
14 min read read