EI rates by region

Valid for claims that start November 8, 2026 – December 5, 2026. Each region's rate sets the hours you need, how many best weeks are averaged, and the weeks you can collect. The rate in force when your claim starts is locked for the whole claim. Rates change about every four weeks.

Source: EI Program Characteristics for the period of November 8, 2026 to December 5, 2026

Newfoundland and Labrador

EI region	Unemployment rate	Hours needed	Best weeks	Weeks of EI
St. John's	6.4%	665	21	15–38
Newfoundland/Labrador	11.4%	490	16	23–45

Prince Edward Island

EI region	Unemployment rate	Hours needed	Best weeks	Weeks of EI
Charlottetown	5.7%	700	22	14–36
Prince Edward Island	10.1%	525	17	21–45

Nova Scotia

EI region	Unemployment rate	Hours needed	Best weeks	Weeks of EI
Eastern Nova Scotia	8.5%	595	19	18–42
Western Nova Scotia	6.4%	665	21	15–38
Halifax	5.6%	700	22	14–36

New Brunswick

EI region	Unemployment rate	Hours needed	Best weeks	Weeks of EI
Fredericton-Moncton-Saint John	6.8%	665	21	15–38
Madawaska-Charlotte	6.7%	665	21	15–38
Restigouche-Albert	10.1%	525	17	21–45

Quebec

EI region	Unemployment rate	Hours needed	Best weeks	Weeks of EI
Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine	10.8%	525	17	21–45
Quebec	4.6%	700	22	14–36
Trois-Rivières	5.2%	700	22	14–36
South Central Quebec	2.8%	700	22	14–36
Sherbrooke	4.5%	700	22	14–36
Montérégie	4.5%	700	22	14–36
Montreal	7.2%	630	20	17–40
Central Quebec	2.9%	700	22	14–36
North Western Quebec	3.7%	700	22	14–36
Lower Saint Lawrence and North Shore	4.8%	700	22	14–36
Hull	6.7%	665	21	15–38
Chicoutimi-Jonquière	3.8%	700	22	14–36

Ontario

EI region	Unemployment rate	Hours needed	Best weeks	Weeks of EI
Ottawa	7.7%	630	20	17–40
Eastern Ontario	6.1%	665	21	15–38
Kingston	5.9%	700	22	14–36
Central Ontario	6.5%	665	21	15–38
Oshawa	9.0%	595	19	18–42
Toronto	7.2%	630	20	17–40
Hamilton	7.6%	630	20	17–40
St. Catharines	7.3%	630	20	17–40
London	8.4%	595	19	18–42
Niagara	6.8%	665	21	15–38
Windsor	8.0%	630	20	17–40
Kitchener	7.0%	665	21	15–38
Huron	7.2%	630	20	17–40
South Central Ontario	5.4%	700	22	14–36
Sudbury	5.4%	700	22	14–36
Thunder Bay	4.3%	700	22	14–36
Northern Ontario	6.7%	665	21	15–38

Manitoba

EI region	Unemployment rate	Hours needed	Best weeks	Weeks of EI
Winnipeg	5.0%	700	22	14–36
Southern Manitoba	6.1%	665	21	15–38
Northern Manitoba	28.0%	420	14	32–45

Saskatchewan

EI region	Unemployment rate	Hours needed	Best weeks	Weeks of EI
Regina	5.9%	700	22	14–36
Saskatoon	5.9%	700	22	14–36
Southern Saskatchewan	6.9%	665	21	15–38
Northern Saskatchewan	14.6%	420	14	28–45

Alberta

EI region	Unemployment rate	Hours needed	Best weeks	Weeks of EI
Calgary	6.9%	665	21	15–38
Edmonton	7.4%	630	20	17–40
Northern Alberta	8.8%	595	19	18–42
Southern Alberta	7.0%	665	21	15–38

British Columbia

EI region	Unemployment rate	Hours needed	Best weeks	Weeks of EI
Southern Interior British Columbia	7.8%	630	20	17–40
Abbotsford	7.0%	665	21	15–38
Vancouver	6.8%	665	21	15–38
Victoria	5.3%	700	22	14–36
Southern Coastal British Columbia	6.5%	665	21	15–38
Northern British Columbia	8.4%	595	19	18–42

Yukon

EI region	Unemployment rate	Hours needed	Best weeks	Weeks of EI
Whitehorse	5.5%	700	22	14–36
Yukon	7.1%	630	20	17–40

Northwest Territories

EI region	Unemployment rate	Hours needed	Best weeks	Weeks of EI
Yellowknife	4.4%	700	22	14–36
Northwest Territories	9.0%	595	19	18–42

Nunavut

EI region	Unemployment rate	Hours needed	Best weeks	Weeks of EI
Iqaluit	5.8%	700	22	14–36
Nunavut	15.5%	420	14	30–45

Weeks of EI: from the minimum at exactly the hours needed to the maximum at 1,820+ hours (Schedule I of the EI Act). Seasonal workers in some regions may use a different table.