The Medical Society of PEI administers a 26-week Parental Leave Program for eligible physicians in Prince Edward Island.
Effective April 1, 2025, the 2024 - 2029 Physician Services Agreement allows for an increase in Parental Leave benefits for all eligible physicians for 26 consecutive weeks of top-up to a maximum of $2,500/week – the most competitive parental leave program in the country.
Eligibility criteria is as follows:
- Full Medical Society of PEI member in good standing (not a locum)
- Engaged to provide services by either Health PEI or the Department of Health and Wellness
- Earned income directly or indirectly from Health PEI for a continuous period of twenty weeks or more immediately prior to their leave*.
*Please note: If a physician has earned qualifying income for less than 20 weeks in the year prior to their leave, the maximum benefit period will be equal to the number of weeks they worked.
Additional Details
- Physicians must submit an Income Reporting Form prior to their claim becoming active.
- The amount of weekly benefit is based on qualifying income over the past year. It will be calculated as 60% of average gross weekly earnings over the best six months of the 12 months (or portion thereof) immediately prior to the leave, up to a maximum of $2,500/week.
- Salaried physicians are required to apply for EI prior to their parental leave claim becoming active.
- Physicians must report all other income and EI received on Biweekly forms. Physicians may earn up to $2,000 gross income biweekly from other sources (excluding EI). Any income above $2,000/biweekly will be deducted from the amount received from this program, dollar for dollar
- Payments are a taxable benefit. MSPEI will automatically deduct taxes on behalf of the physician and a T4A will be issued at year end.
- Physicians must be signed up for direct deposit.
PLEASE NOTE: Claims prior to April 1, 2025 will be processed on the existing $2000 per week as per the 2019 - 2024 Master Agreement, and will increase to the new amount on April 1.
For more information on this program, please see the Parental Leave Benefit information form.
Still have questions? Contact Donna Lamont.