INDEPTH: COMPASSIONATE CARE
Compassionate care
CBC News Online | January 7, 2004
Human Resources Minister Joe Volpe says a new federal "compassionate care" insurance program that began on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2003 is a good investment. It's designed to assist people who leave work to help sick or dying loved ones.
Highlights:
- The program could cost $1.5 billion a year;
- Canadian industry estimates cost of freeing employees to care for sick or dying loved ones is $2.4 billion a year in lost productivity;
- Plans for the compassionate care program began under government of former prime minister Jean Chrétien and announced in the 2003 federal budget;
- It allows anyone eligible for Employment Insurance with a sick or dying family member to collect six weeks' worth of benefits;
- Participants must obtain a special medical certificate from a doctor indicating that the patient has a serious medical condition with a "significant risk of death" within six months and requires the care or support of one or more family members;
Commenting on the estimated cost of $1.5 billion a year to finance the program, Volpe said: "Given the numbers that we have, we could see that it would be that kind of an expense, but it's an expense that's well worth its while."
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