Changes introduced by the provincial government on Wednesday will see mothers able to take 19 weeks of maternity leave, increasing the previous amount of time by a week.

78 total weeks of leave will be available to new mothers or can be shared between parents. Parental leave has also been extended from 34 to 59 weeks, not including the 19 week maternity leave.

If a parent decides to take the entire leave, or they are collecting employment insurance, their parental leave will expand from 37-63 weeks.

Also announced by the government, workers will be allowed 17 weeks leave to care for critically ill adult family members, as well as 10 days of interpersonal violence leave for survivors of sexual violence.