Recognize and compensate caregivers
Petitioners ask the Government of Canada to recognize family caregivers and create a federal monthly caregiver allowance, expand EI caregiving eligibility and duration, and establish a national caregiver respite and support program. The government responds that it offers EI caregiving benefits, will evaluate them in 2026–27 and launched a Care Economy Alliance to review supports.
Why we would sign this petition
- It would provide regular, direct income to unpaid caregivers, easing financial strain and acknowledging their economic contribution.
- Expanded EI eligibility and longer benefit durations would let workers take necessary caregiving leave without losing income, supporting job retention and care continuity.
- A national support and respite program would standardize access across provinces and help prevent caregiver burnout where local services are uneven.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- A federal monthly allowance and expanded benefits would increase public spending and raise questions about long‑term fiscal sustainability.
- Care and health services are primarily provincial responsibilities; a federal program risks overlap, duplication, or conflict with provincial systems and priorities.
- Implementation could be administratively complex with eligibility challenges and potential misuse, and EI caregiving benefits already exist and are under review.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
We, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to recognize family caregivers in Canada and provide them with equitable compensation, that is to say: • Officially recognize the role of family caregivers as essential to the healthcare system; • Provide a federal monthly allowance or compensation program for caregivers; • Expand eligibility and duration of caregiver benefits under Employment Insurance; • Establish a national caregiver support and respite program accessible across provinces.
Government response
Response by the Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario Signed by Annie Koutrakis The Government of Canada recognizes that care is a pressing issue within Canada, with significant implications for the economy, societal inequalities, and the well-being of Canadians, including seniors. The Government of Canada is committed to helping Canadians, and the caregivers and care providers that support them. Given the breadth of the care economy, the government recognizes that meaningful engagement and contributions are needed from a broad coalition of stakeholders and all levels of government. Although health and social programs mostly fall under provincial and territorial jurisdiction, the Government of Canada has made historic investments to strengthen the social infrastructure that is the care economy. This includes work to provide families in Canada with access to high-quality, affordable, flexible, and inclusive early learning and childcare, which supports caregivers who wish to participate in the workforce by reducing the financial strain related to childcare fees. Should parents decide to stay at home with their children, measures such as the Canada Child Benefit continue to be available to all families with children. In addition, recognizing the essential role that family caregivers play in supporting loved ones with serious illness, injury, or end-of-life care, the Government of Canada is committed to ensuring that Employment Insurance special benefits remain accessible and responsive to the needs of eligible workers. Through the Employment Insurance program, the Government of Canada currently provides a suite of three Employment Insurance caregiving benefits to eligible workers who need to be away from work temporarily to provide care or support to a critically ill or injured person or someone requiring end-of-life care. These include the family caregiver benefit for children, the family caregiver benefit for adults, and the compassionate care benefits. The Employment Insurance family caregiver benefit for children provides up to 35 weeks of income support to eligible workers to care for a critically ill or injured child under the age of 18. The Employment Insurance family caregiver benefit for adults provides up to 15 weeks of income support to care for a critically ill or injured person aged 18 or older. The Employment Insurance compassionate care benefit provides up to 26 weeks of income support to care for a person of any age who has a significant risk of death within 26 weeks or requires end-of-life care. All of these Employment Insurance caregiving benefits may be shared among eligible family members. To qualify for these benefits, individuals must have at least 600 hours of insurable employment during the qualifying period (typically 52 weeks before they establish a claim), experience an interruption in earnings, have paid Employment Insurance premiums, and provide a medical certificate issued by a qualified health care practitioner confirming that the person receiving the care meets the eligible medical criteria. Eligible Employment Insurance claimants will receive a weekly benefit amount of 55% of average insurable weekly earnings, up to a maximum of $729 per week for 2026. Self-employed workers can opt into the Employment Insurance program to access special benefits—including Employment Insurance caregiving benefits if they have an active agreement with Service Canada for 12 months, meet citizenship and business ownership requirements, satisfy specific benefit conditions, reduce work by 40%, and have earned a minimum amount in self-employment earnings during the previous taxation year (at least $9,254 in 2025 for claims made in 2026). The Government of Canada continually monitors and evaluates Employment Insurance benefits to ensure that they are effective and responsive. An evaluation of Employment Insurance caregiving is planned for fiscal years 2026 to 2027. This evaluation will assess the effectiveness, efficiency and relevance of these three caregiving benefits and will help inform future program considerations. The evaluation findings will contribute to ensuring that Employment Insurance caregiving benefits continue to meet the needs of Canadians while maintaining program integrity and sustainability. As announced on February 17, 2026, the government has also established six Workforce Alliances in priority sectors, which have a significant impact on aspects of everyday life for Canadians. Among them, the Care Economy Alliance will be created to focus on workers involved in caregiving, and promote well-being, economic resilience, and gender equity across all sectors. This area supports key caregiving systems and could alleviate pressure on unpaid caregivers. The government remains committed to supporting caregivers through existing benefits and will continue to review measures to support both paid and unpaid caregivers as well as the broader care economy.