This policy is directed at families that need to take care of a member of their family who is suffering from a serious medical condition with a significant risk of death within 26 weeks and a requirement for care and support.
Supporting families and communities is a top priority for our government, and so an enhancement to the EI compassionate care benefit is important because it will provide additional financial security to Canadian workers and their families in need.
The benefits will be taken within a 26-week period once a doctor attests to the medical condition of the family member, and approximately 6,900 claimants per year would stand to benefit from the generous program we've introduced.
We want to make sure the EI program remains responsive, fair, and flexible to labour market conditions while continuing to support Canadians when they need it most. The changes really affirm the government's support for families, particularly for primary caregivers.
The NDP simply voted against almost every measure we've introduced.