EI sickness benefit extended to 26 weeks, federal government announces

Ottawa –

The federal government will extend employment insurance sick pay from 15 weeks to 26 weeks, Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough announced on Friday.

Workers who apply for EI will be eligible for more generous benefits starting December 18. Advocates applaud the move but urge the government to deliver on its promise of a major overhaul of the system.

Qualtrough made the presentation during a visit to the Canadian Cancer Society’s Community Care Center in Vancouver.

“So many workers pay for EI, but if they get seriously ill or suffer an injury that requires recovery, 15 weeks doesn’t cover the duration of the injury,” Qualtrough said. says.

“We know that, and organizations like yours have advocated increasing the number of weeks of EI illness for a very long time.”

The maximum duration of unpaid medical leave available to federally regulated private sector workers will also be extended from 17 weeks to 27 weeks on the same day.

This change will allow such workers to take sufficient unpaid leave from work to receive extended EI sickness benefits.

In September, Qualtrough met with labor leaders and pledged to extend EI sickness benefits from 15 to 26 weeks by the end of the year.

A spokesperson for the National Unemployed Council on Friday called the announcement a “huge step forward.”

“However, this is nothing new. This announcement does not replace the long-awaited EI reforms due to be introduced in early December,” said Pierre Serre in a statement.

In 2021, liberals campaign with promises to modernize the EI, expand programs to cover the self-employed, and promise to address gaps, including those highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic Did.

Employment and Social Development Canada held a series of public consultations on EI reforms, which ended in the summer.

Qualtrough had previously said the government would present its plans by the end of the year. She added on Friday that the government “will have to say a lot more” about modernization.

This report by the Canadian Press was first published on November 25, 2022.