LIA - Summer 2026 - Planning ahead...

So summer is halfway over and I'm already planning ahead for 2026.

People in my current team seem to take extended time off in the summer - no idea if LIA or vacation but seems to be acceptable. So I'm hopeful that if I ask early enough (winter) I'll be able to take it.

I've never taken LIA and would like to next summer and need to be strategic about it.

What is the best way to do it for July-August for 5-6 weeks ensuring I get my vacation and sick leave, at least for 1 month. Is it possible???

And I'm part of the PA collective agreement and am hopeful that the new CA would be ratified by 2027 so I get a pay bump and the retro pay during the year of reduced pay cheques. Financially next year is not the best year for me to do this but there's also travel and a trip that's important before certain life milestones that I'd like to do.

Any tips or suggestions of how best to maximize from those who have done it. Also open to advice from managers how best to frame the request to make it easier for my manager to agree. Anything I should consider???

TIA from a public servant ready for adventures in 2026 🤞. If I'm not WFA - I know this is a consideration too.