Hi all,
I have been in this situation specifically myself and feel as though there is a lot of misleading information in this forum that is not based on facts.
First, lets distinguish that there is a difference between EI and Benefits (such as CCB).
For EI purposes, you can continue to collect your maternity/parental EI, even if you are out of the country for your entire maternity leave. I was out of the country from October 2018 to June 2019 and continue to receive my EI payments. Entitlement and eligibility for EI maternity leave is difference from other forms of EI, in that it does not matter that you are out of the country, only that you must inform EI that this is the case.
"
Absence from Canada
Although you can receive EI maternity and parental benefits while you are outside Canada, you usually cannot be outside Canada while you are receiving other types of EI benefits."
https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/ei-outside-canada/eligibility.html
On the other hand, eligibility for other benefits (such CCB) is very different.
You can only continue to receive the CCB is you remain residency status for tax purposes. I also continued to receive the CCB while I was on my maternity, as I always intended to return to work after my maternity leave, as well I maintained other ties in Canada that classified me as a factual resident for tax purposes.
However, if your plan is not to return to Canada after you maternity, and you maintain no other ties in Canada, you are not eligible to receive the CCB.
https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/international-non-residents/individuals-leaving-entering-canada-non-residents/factual-residents-temporarily-outside-canada.html