In cases similar to Émilie's—that is, in cases of serious illness for which chemotherapy gives hope for recovery, but where the protocol calls for 40 weeks of treatment—the attitude toward the disease and the fight is going to be less positive.
The financial challenge takes precedence over the medical challenge, and hope is lost. Those who are 26, 27, 28 or 30 weeks into treatment are probably the sickest, but they are also the ones who want to have hope of returning to work. While it would have been better if they had more time off, you don't hear about the people who were on benefits for only 15 weeks, but recovered after 17 weeks.
No one raises their hand to say they wish they were sick. It just doesn't happen. One day, you get the bad news, but you want to go back to work and achieve your potential. If these people get back to work soon, it's better psychologically and financially. They will be able to re-enroll their children in certain activities, which the family may have chosen to cut. That's part of the person's daily life.
Everyone has been given the information and understands the situation: the key to success is to allow up to 52 weeks of benefits, based on a health assessment. I don't think Canadian doctors are conspiring to defraud. They are going to do their job and support their patients by helping them heal and return to work.