Canada Launches New EI Board of Appeal, With Appeals to Begin April 1
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Canada announced on Wednesday, March 25, that its new Employment Insurance Board of Appeal will begin receiving and hearing first-level EI appeals on April 1, 2026, replacing the Social Security Tribunal’s General Division for that stage of the process.
The change matters directly to claimants challenging reconsideration decisions related to EI eligibility and entitlement. According to the federal government, the new board will offer a choice of hearing format, including in person, by phone, videoconference, or hybrid, and is expected to deliver timelier decisions, including same-day rulings in most cases. The new structure also restores a regional tripartite model that includes representation from employers and workers alongside a presiding member.
Ottawa says the new board will handle appeals tied to regular EI, sickness, maternity and parental, caregiving, fishing, and some self-employed benefits starting April 1. Appeals received before March 31, 2026 will remain with the Social Security Tribunal, with both systems operating in parallel during a transition period.
The reform also removes the “leave to appeal” requirement for second-level EI appeals, a move the government says will make the system more accessible and easier to navigate. For readers, the practical takeaway is straightforward: anyone filing a new EI appeal after April 1 should expect a new first-level appeal body and a revised process.
