Thank you.
The MS Society is also recommending some changes to existing programs to benefit caregivers. These changes would help address the inequity currently faced by caregivers when they leave the workforce to care for someone who is disabled. In so doing, they compromise the future level of their pension at retirement. This is patently unfair, since they save the government hundreds of thousands of dollars in annual costs for hospitalization or institutional care.
Specifically, we'd like to see that EI benefits be extended to caregivers of people who are severely disabled, similar to what is now in place for caregivers who leave their jobs to care for gravely ill or dying family members. In addition, we recommend that the CPP program provide drop-out provisions for caregivers that are the same as the child care drop-out provisions. And finally, the caregiver tax credit should be extended to spouses as it is to other family members. Spouses often provide care out of love and compassion, not because they're required to do so. A caregiver spouse makes an important contribution, and it should be recognized and compensated.
The second priority area in our brief is the area of health care, and I'd like to highlight the urgent need for catastrophic drug coverage and a national pharmaceutical strategy. Drugs to treat MS are expensive, up to $25,000 a year, and we recommend that the government look very quickly at moving to a catastrophic drug program as soon as possible.
In health research, the MS Society has its own research program, but we depend significantly on the funding that is available from CIHR. Again, we recognize the importance of this and urge this committee to make a recommendation to the government that CIHR funding be increased and sustained.
Thank you very much.