May 13, 2015– Ottawa, Ontario – Employment and Social Development Canada
The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Health, along with the Honourable Candice Bergen, Minister of State for Social Development, on behalf of the Honourable Pierre Poilievre, Minister of Employment and Social Development, today highlighted increased financial support proposed for individuals taking care of family members facing a significant risk of death.
Compassionate care benefits, which are provided through the Employment Insurance (EI) program, are available to individuals temporarily away from work to care for a sick family member with a significant risk of death. Effective January 3, 2016, the proposed enhanced benefit will allow claimants to collect up to 26 weeks of benefits, up from the current 6 weeks. The benefits can also be taken within an expanded period of 52 weeks (up from 26 weeks) and can be shared between family members.
The enhancements being made to compassionate care benefits through Economic Action Plan (EAP) 2015 reaffirm the Government’s commitment to helping families receive the support they need as they care for loved ones at end-of-life.
oday’s announcement is one example of what the Government is doing to help Canadians. To help hard-working families, the Government is also enhancing the Universal Child Care Benefit, introducing the Family Tax Cut and making improvements to the Child Care Expenses Deduction and the Children’s Fitness Tax Credit.
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One of the most difficult times for anyone is when a loved one is dying or at risk of death. The demands of caring for a gravely ill family member can jeopardize both employment and financial security. The Government of Canada believes that, during such times, Canadians should not have to choose between keeping their job and caring for their family.
Economic Action Plan 2015 proposes to provide up to an additional $37 million annually to extend Employment Insurance (EI) compassionate care benefits from six weeks to six months. Estimates suggest that up to 6,900 claimants per year could benefit from the enhanced measure.
These changes will allow claimants who are temporarily away from work to take care of a family member with a serious medical condition with a significant risk of death to receive compassionate care benefits for 26 weeks, up from the current 6-week period.
Eligibility for compassionate care benefits remain the same, including the requirement for a medical certificate signed by a doctor attesting to the family member’s condition.
Self-employed Canadians can apply for EI special benefits (maternity, parental, sickness, compassionate care and parents of critically ill children benefits) if they are registered for access to the EI program.
This measure will come into effect on January 3, 2016. Claimants who are in receipt of compassionate care benefits at the time of coming into force would be able to benefit from the new provisions and receive additional weeks of benefits.
Additionally, the Government has also proposed amendments to Part III of the Canada Labour Code to increase the maximum duration of compassionate care leave up to 28 weeks, and to extend the current 26-week period within which the leave can be taken to 52 weeks. This will ensure that the jobs of employees in federally regulated enterprises remain protected while they avail themselves of compassionate care benefits under the Employment Insurance program.
Through these enhancements, the Government is ensuring that the EI program continues to help Canadians when they need it most.
The Government is also committed to helping Canadians receive the compassionate, end-of-life support they need. Continued work is being done with provinces, territories and partners to support efforts to improve these healthcare services for all Canadians.
Since 2006, $43 million was invested to support palliative care research, and $6 million was provided to support initiatives to broaden the range of settings where palliative care can be delivered, and the variety of providers who can provide it. This is equipping healthcare providers with the knowledge they need to provide quality palliative care in all settings.
EAP 2015 proposes to provide $14 million over two years to the Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement. One of the Foundation's priorities for the funding will be evaluating and disseminating data about best practices in palliative care services.
