Medical note requirements in Canada vary significantly by province and territory.
Provinces like Manitoba and Saskatchewan are actively reducing the administrative burden on the healthcare system. In 2026, many employers are now barred from requesting doctor’s notes for short-term absences (typically under five days), forcing a shift toward trust-based attendance management.
While some provinces prohibit medical notes entirely for short‑duration leave, others still permit them for longer absences. Review your province or territory’s current requirements, recent updates, and available online resources to ensure compliance with the rules specific to your jurisdiction.
Alberta
As of now, Alberta has not implemented provincial legislation restricting sick‑note requests for short‑term absences, unlike many other Canadian jurisdictions. Employers in Alberta may generally request medical certificates for illnesses but must comply with human rights laws prohibiting requests for detailed diagnoses.
https://www.alberta.ca/general-illness-leave-directive#jumplinks-3
British Columbia
Updated November 12, 2025: An employer can’t request a doctor’s note, and an employee isn’t required to provide one, unless at least one of the following applies:
• Their leave lasts longer than 5 consecutive days
• They take more than 2 health-related leaves, of 5 consecutive days or less, in the same calendar year
Manitoba
Starting in Spring 2026, Manitoba is amending the Employment Standards Code to prohibit employers from requiring sick notes for absences of seven days or less, or for fewer than 10 cumulative workdays per year. This change aims to reduce administrative burdens on healthcare professionals by targeting documentation for short‑term illnesses.
https://web2.gov.mb.ca/bills/40-5/b202e.php
New Brunswick
Employers may require a sick note only if an employee is absent for four or more consecutive days. The note must come from a regulated health professional (e.g., doctor, nurse) and may only confirm the need for leave-not disclose the diagnosis. Sick notes for shorter absences are generally not permitted.
Newfoundland and Labrador
As of December 4, 2024, Newfoundland and Labrador amended the Labour Standards Act to remove the requirement for employees to provide sick notes for short‑term illnesses (typically three consecutive days or fewer). Employers are restricted from requesting medical documentation for these short‑term statutory sick leaves.
Northwest Territories
Employees can take up to five days unpaid sick leave during a 12-month period if they:
• Cannot work due to illness or injury.
• Have been employed for 30 days or more with the same employer.
• Ask for time off and let the employer know the length of time they need.
Employers can ask for a medical certificate if the sick leave is more than three days.
Nova Scotia
As of July 1, 2023, employers can only request a sick note if an employee is absent for more than five consecutive working days or has had two prior absences of five or fewer days in the previous 12 months. Notes can be provided by various regulated health professionals, not just doctors
https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2023/06/30/new-sick-note-rules-effective-july-1
Nunavut
Employers may require a medical note for sick leave, particularly for absences lasting more than three consecutive days. While the Labour Standards Act does not explicitly detail sick note rules, employers generally have the right to request proof of illness to manage attendance, though they cannot ask for a diagnosis.
Ontario
Effective October 28, 2024, employers cannot require employees to provide a medical note for 3 days of unpaid sick leave under the ESA.
https://www.ontario.ca/document/your-guide-employment-standards-act-0/sick-leave
Prince Edward Island
Employers can only require a sick note if an employee is absent for more than three consecutive days. As of October 1, 2024, regulations prohibit requiring medical certificates for single-day absences, with paid sick leave accumulating up to three days after three years of employment.
Quebec
As of January 1, 2025, Bill 68, employers cannot require medical certificates or supporting documents for the first three periods of short-term absence (three days or less) per year due to sickness or family obligations.
https://www.assnat.qc.ca/en/travaux-parlementaires/projets-loi/projet-loi-68-43-1.html
Saskatchewan
As of January 1, 2026, Saskatchewan employers can only request a doctor’s note if an employee is absent for more than five consecutive working days or has two or more non-consecutive absences due to illness in a 12-month period. Employers are prohibited from demanding specific medical diagnoses, focusing only on confirmation of illness.
Yukon
Employers are entitled to request medical documentation from employees to verify the need for sick leave, particularly if the absence is for more than three consecutive days
https://yukon.ca/sites/default/files/cs/cs-employment-standards-special-leave.pdf