Join our study: Balancing employment and unpaid care for adults in Quebec, British Columbia, and Nova Scotia
Current status: Open
Opened on June 15, 2026 and will close to new input on December 31, 2026.
Recruitment for the study is open until September 30, 2026.
Employment and Social Development Canada is conducting a research study in British Columbia, Quebec, and Nova Scotia to better understand how employment and other areas of life are impacted by providing unpaid care.
Who can participate
We are looking for individuals who:
- provide unpaid support to a family member or friend who has challenges related to aging, health and/or disability and who is 18 years of age or older
- are:
- 40 years of age or older (British Columbia and Quebec)
- 18 years of age or older (Nova Scotia)
- have had their employment impacted in some way by the care or support they provide (e.g. reduced hours or leave of absence)
- live in or provide support in:
- between Surrey and Boston Bar (British Columbia)
- Montreal or within a 50 km radius of Montreal (Quebec)
- Halifax Regional Municipality, Kings County, Annapolis County, Inverness County, Richmond County, Victoria County or Cape Breton Regional Municipality (Nova Scotia)
To participate in this research study, you must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
Your participation will help inform programs and policies aimed at promoting and strengthening work leave provisions of Canadians.
What will you need to do
If you qualify, you will be asked to complete the following activities.
In British Columbia and Quebec:
- an online questionnaire (20 to 30 minutes)
- a document asking you to enter important events in your life (20 to 30 minutes)
- a minimum of one interview (90 minutes)
In Nova Scotia:
- a document asking you to enter important events in your life (optional)
- a minimum of one interview (90 minutes)
- additional conversations or activities (optional)
- a journalling activity (optional)
Contact us to participate in the study
Qualitative Research and Innovation Unit
Employment and Social Development Canada
Email: NC-RESEARCH-INNOVATION-GD@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
A member of the research team will respond to you to determine if you are eligible to participate in the study.
Ethical conduct of research statement
This project has been reviewed and approved by the Community Research Ethics Board. If you ever feel you have not been treated according to the descriptions in our information, or your rights as a participant in research have been violated during the course of this project, you may contact the Chair, Community Research Ethics Board, at:
Community Research Ethics Office (Canada) Corp.
c/o Centre for Community Based Research
140 Westmount Road North
Waterloo ON N2L 3G5
Email: creoadmin@communityresearchethics.com
Privacy notice statement
The information you share is collected under the authority of the Department of Employment and Social Development Act section 6. This information is protected under the Department of Employment and Social Development Act, the Privacy Act and other applicable laws.