Liberal proposal would give caregivers unpaid leave to help sick family
Posted December 8, 2011 2:49 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO – The governing Liberals are introducing legislation Thursday to expand a program that provides up to eight weeks of unpaid leave for people caring for a sick or injured family member.
Ontario’s existing family medical leave plan allows people to take an eight-week unpaid leave of absence to care for a loved one who is dying, and guarantees their job will be there when they return.
The bill – which was part of the Liberals’ campaign platform – would extend the same right to people who have a family member that has a serious injury or illness, including cancer or a stroke.
The new legislation is another attempt by the Liberals to fulfil their campaign promises in Ontario’s new minority parliament, despite a $16-billion deficit.
They’ve also introduced a bill that would give seniors a home renovation tax credit to stay in their homes longer, and have promised to cut tuition to full-time post-secondary students starting in the new year.
The tax credit and tuition cut will cost the treasury about half a billion dollars a year once fully implemented, but the Liberals insist they’re still serious about slaying the deficit.
The New Democrats are pushing their own agenda today with a motion to pause corporate tax cuts, which they say will cost the treasury $800 million over two years.
Both measures came on the last day of the legislative session before provincial politicians take a break for the holidays. They return Feb. 21.
