New Brunswick’s recent law establishing long-term unpaid sick leave is now in effect, and it completes a national shift so that all 10 Canadian provinces provide some form of job protection for people who need extended time off due to illness or injury. In June, New Brunswick adopted legislation that allows workers to take up to 27 weeks of unpaid leave to recover from serious illness or injury, replacing earlier rules that offered only very short time off. After New Brunswick’s change, provincial labour standards across the country align in the sense that workers in every province now have access to job protection when they require longer absences for health reasons. Reporting across outlets says the key development is the expansion of leave length and the extension of job-protected coverage to cover long-term recovery, ensuring that employees are not stripped of employment protection solely due to the duration of their leave. While details can vary by province, all sources agree the remaining gap is closed: every province now provides some job protection related to long-term sick leave.