A Canadian Two Weeks Notice Resignation Letter is a formal written document by which an employee voluntarily terminates the employment relationship, providing the employer with exactly two weeks of advance notice before the intended last day of work. Two weeks notice has become the customary professional standard for employee resignations across Canada, though the actual legal requirements for employee notice vary significantly by province.

Canadian employment law distinguishes between statutory notice requirements imposed by provincial Employment Standards Acts and contractual notice obligations that may be set out in the employment agreement. In Ontario, the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (S.O. 2000, c. 41, s. 63) requires employees who have been continuously employed for three or more months to give at least one week of written notice of resignation. Many Ontario employment contracts require two weeks or more. In British Columbia, the Employment Standards Act (R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 113, s. 63) sets a graduated employee notice requirement: no notice for employment of less than three months, one week for employment of three months to one year, and two weeks for employment of one year or more. Alberta's Employment Standards Code (R.S.A. 2000, c. E-9) does not impose any statutory notice obligation on employees, though the employment contract or common law may create such an obligation.

The two weeks notice letter serves several practical and legal purposes. It creates a clear written record of the employee's voluntary departure, which is essential for the employer's Record of Employment (ROE) reporting to Service Canada under the Employment Insurance Act (S.C. 1996, c. 23, s. 19). The ROE must be issued within five calendar days and must correctly identify the separation as voluntary (Code E — Quit). The letter also triggers the employer's obligation to pay all outstanding wages and accrued vacation pay within the provincial statutory timeline. Providing adequate notice demonstrates good faith and professionalism, and failing to provide reasonable notice may in rare cases expose the employee to a claim for damages if the employer can demonstrate actual losses caused by the insufficient notice, as occurred in GasTOPS Ltd. v. Forsyth (2012 ONCA 134).

A Canadian Two Weeks Notice Resignation Letter is needed whenever an employee decides to voluntarily leave their current employment and wishes to provide the employer with the standard professional courtesy of two weeks advance notice. This is the most common form of resignation letter used across Canadian workplaces and is appropriate for employees at all levels and in all industries.

The two weeks notice letter should be submitted at least fourteen calendar days before the employee's intended last day of work. Employees should carefully review their employment agreement before submitting the letter, as the contract may require a longer notice period. Courts have upheld reasonable contractual notice provisions requiring employees to provide more than two weeks notice, particularly for senior or specialized positions where the employer needs time to recruit a replacement. In GasTOPS Ltd. v. Forsyth (2012 ONCA 134), the Ontario Court of Appeal upheld damages against employees who resigned without adequate notice and immediately joined a competitor.

The letter is particularly important for employees who want to preserve their professional relationships and ensure a smooth transition. Offering to assist with training a replacement and completing outstanding projects during the notice period demonstrates professionalism. The letter also serves to formally request final pay entitlements, including all outstanding wages and accrued vacation pay under the applicable provincial Employment Standards Act. In Ontario, vacation pay is a minimum of 4% of gross wages for two weeks of vacation entitlement, increasing to 6% (three weeks) after five years of continuous employment with the same employer (ESA s. 35.2). The employee should also request a Record of Employment from the employer.

Employees who are leaving due to constructive dismissal should consider whether a resignation letter is the appropriate course of action. If the employer has fundamentally breached the employment contract through actions such as a significant pay reduction, demotion, or creating a hostile work environment, the employee may have a common-law claim for constructive dismissal. In such cases, the resignation letter should clearly state the reasons for departure to preserve the employee's legal rights and potential EI eligibility.

An effective Canadian Two Weeks Notice Resignation Letter must clearly identify the employee by full legal name, job title, and department, and must be addressed to the appropriate recipient — typically the employee's direct supervisor, manager, or human resources department. The letter must contain an unequivocal statement of resignation and specify that the employee is providing two weeks of notice.

The last day of work must be clearly stated. The employee should verify that the two weeks notice period meets or exceeds both the statutory minimum under the applicable provincial Employment Standards Act and any contractual notice requirement in the employment agreement. If the employment contract specifies a notice period longer than two weeks, the employee should honour it to avoid potential liability. The letter should be dated and delivered in a manner that creates proof of delivery — hand delivery with acknowledgment, email with read receipt, or registered mail (Canada Post).

The letter should include an offer to assist with the transition during the notice period, such as training a replacement, completing outstanding projects, preparing handover documentation, and organizing files and contacts. This demonstrates good faith and professionalism. A request for final pay entitlements should reference the applicable Employment Standards Act provisions: all outstanding wages, accrued vacation pay at the applicable percentage (minimum 4% of gross wages in most provinces), any earned but unpaid bonuses or commissions, and a Record of Employment to be issued within five calendar days as required by the Employment Insurance Act.

Optionally, the letter may include a brief, professional statement of the reason for leaving, though this is not legally required. If included, the reason should be stated positively and without negative comments about the employer. The employee should confirm their ongoing obligations with respect to confidentiality, non-solicitation, and any other restrictive covenants that survive the employment relationship. An exit interview request may be included if the employee wishes to provide constructive feedback. The letter should reference the governing province whose employment standards legislation applies to the employment relationship.