Helping Families of the Seriously Ill

Federal Minister Joe Volpe introduces Employment Insurance Compassionate Care

Federal minister of Human Resources Joe Volpe announced last week, during a press conference at the Baycrest Centre, that Ottawa will earmark $1.5 billion for workers assisting family members severely or terminally ill.
The fund is called Employment Insurance Compassionate Care Benefit, and will be accessible to employees or self-employed workers upon request.
Who's entitled to it? Anyone with close relatives in need of assistance: parents, spouses or common-law partners, children, a parent's spouse or common-law partner, or children of a spouse or common-law partner.
Employees can take up to six weeks of leave, on condition that the severity of the illness manifests itself within 26 weeks.
The severity of the illness must be certified by a physician. In order to be eligible, employees must have contributed for at least 600 hours, while self-employed workers must show they generated revenues of at least $3,760.
The benefit can also be obtained for family members living abroad.
The Compassionate Care benefit can be shared among different members of the family, even at the same time (e.g. by two people taking three weeks each). There is a waiting period of two weeks.
Employees taking the leave get paid by the fund and maintain their jobs.
The Feds will be even more generous with their employees. These will get up to eight weeks and also conserve their jobs and their positions. They will not be fired, suspended, transferred, or demoted, nor disciplined.
Some of the provinces have already adopted similar provisions. Ontario last year introduced 10 days of "protected", although unpaid, leave of absence.
Canadian industries complained that such absences have caused losses for $2.4 billion.
Compassionate Care was prepared by Jean Chrétien's cabinet and included in their budget for 2003. It came in force on January 4.
Talking about the industry's global needs, minister Volpe clarified, "This is just the beginning. It's not the roof: it's the foundation over which we will build something important, belonging to our open culture. A Canadian citizen should not be forced to choose between a job and assisting loved ones in particularly difficult moments.
"This fund will help them with these choices. We estimate that some 160,000 people could be assisted by their relatives, and that some 260,000 workers could request Compassionate Care benefits."
Volpe told us, "No province contributes to the fund, not even Ontario. This is a Federal programme. Of course, if anyone would like to participate, they're more than welcome."
"This is a wonderful co-operation," concluded Volpe, "among the government, workers and patients, and it is worth more for economy than the money it costs."
Specialists were also satisfied. Vice President (Human Resources) Angelo Pesce, of the Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care, remarked, "this is a balanced initiative. It mediates the needs of the companies with those of the workers."
Dr. Fabio Varlese, director of the Intensive Care programme, said, "This initiative is extremely positive for anyone with a severely ill family member. It's particularly important for those who assist a patient with 6-8 weeks of life left."
What does it mean for the ill who have a relative with them?
"This programme addresses some real needs," says Varlese. "Patients aren't given only psychological or emotional help, but also assistance with many practical needs. Family members assisting them, relieved of financial worries, can relax and give serenity to the patient."
The top management of the Baycrest Centre attended the presentation of the programme, in the persons of President Stephen W. Herbert and Vice President (Medicine) Dr. Michael Gordon.

Publication Date: 2004-01-18
Story Location: http://tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=3550