March 25, 2026 Gatineau, Quebec Employment and Social Development Canada
In a rapidly changing world, we are focusing on what we can control: building a stronger, fairer and more resilient Canada. Ensuring the voices of workers and employers are heard is essential to building a strong economy and supporting the workforce of today and tomorrow.
The Employment Insurance (EI) program, funded through the contributions of employers and workers, provides crucial temporary income support to workers who lose their jobs through no fault of their own or are unable to work due to specific circumstances like illness, pregnancy or caregiving. When clients wish to challenge a reconsideration decision from Service Canada regarding program eligibility and other related matters, EI applicants must have access to timely decision-making through an effective appeals mechanism.
To this end, the Government of Canada is following through on its commitment to improve the EI appeals process and make it more responsive to Canadians by launching the new EI Board of Appeal (EI BOA). EI BOA hearings will be led by a regionally based panel of three individuals comprising a presiding member appointed by the Governor in Council, and one member each appointed from employer and worker communities. It will be responsible for hearing first-level EI appeals, which were previously heard by the Social Security Tribunal, General Division.
The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario, announced today the EI BOA will begin to receive and hear appeals on April 1, 2026. The EI BOA will provide clients with their choice of hearing format and timelier, same‑day decisions, except in specified circumstances. By including regional representation, it will ensure that decisions will take into account the reality of local communities.
Alongside the launch of the EI BOA comes the elimination of the "leave to appeal" process for second-level EI appeals. Currently, parties who believe an error has been made at the first appeal level by the Social Security Tribunal General Division can ask for the matter to be considered by the Appeal Division only after seeking permission from an Appeal Division member. Eliminating this 'leave to appeal' requirement improves access to justice, making the appeal process more client centric.
The creation of the EI BOA for first-level appeals is a significant reform to the EI recourse process and the outcome of significant consultation with Canadians and key stakeholders across the country, including labour and employer groups. It responds to calls to return to tripartite decision-making panels for first-level EI appeals, similar to what had existed prior to the Social Security Tribunal.
