CanadaCan I collect employment insurance if I quit my job voluntarily?
You may qualify for Employment Insurance (EI) after quitting if you had 'just cause' — a valid reason that made continuing employment unreasonable — as defined under the Employment Insurance Act.
What the Law Says
The Employment Insurance Act sets strict conditions for receiving benefits after voluntarily leaving a job. The key concept is 'just cause' — meaning your reason for quitting must be serious enough that a reasonable person in your situation would have no practical alternative but to leave.
Under section 29 of the Employment Insurance Act, a person who quits their job is not disqualified from EI benefits if they had 'just cause' for doing so. Just cause means 'a reason that is both sufficient and compelling, such that a reasonable person, exercising normal judgment and acting in good faith, would consider it necessary to leave the employment.'
Examples of possible just cause include harassment, unsafe working conditions, significant unilateral changes to your job (e.g., drastic pay cut or relocation), or caring for a seriously ill family member where no other options exist. However, personal dissatisfaction, better job offers, or minor workplace disagreements generally do not meet the threshold.
Even with just cause, you must still meet all other EI eligibility requirements: having accumulated at least 91 hours of insurable employment in the last 52 weeks (or since your last claim), being available and actively seeking work, and having been employed in insurable employment.
Statutory TextA claimant who has voluntarily left employment is not disqualified from receiving benefits if the claimant had just cause for leaving the employment.
— Employment Insurance Act, s. 29 — Just cause for leaving employment
What Courts Have Said
Courts have emphasized that EI legislation must be interpreted generously in favour of claimants, given its social safety net purpose — but this does not lower the legal standard for proving 'just cause.'
The Court held that employment insurance legislation must be interpreted liberally to fulfill its purpose of providing income support during unemployment, but claimants still bear the burden of proving they meet statutory conditions — including just cause — on a balance of probabilities.
What to Do
Gather clear evidence supporting your reason for quitting (e.g., emails, medical notes, witness statements, employer correspondence).
Apply for EI immediately through Service Canada — even if unsure about eligibility — within 4 weeks of stopping work.
Clearly explain your reason for quitting in your application and attach supporting documents.
If denied, request reconsideration in writing within 30 days — citing section 29 and relevant facts.
If reconsideration fails, appeal to the Social Security Tribunal within 90 days.
Sources
Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.