Increasing the maximum number of weeks of employment insurance sickness benefits to 52 weeks from 15 weeks

Abstract

Bill C-215 proposes to increase the maximum number of weeks for employment insurance sickness benefits due to a prescribed illness, injury, or quarantine to 52 weeks from 15 weeks. The extension is assumed to come into effect in summer 2022.

The PBO estimates the net cost of the proposal to be $1,092 million in 2022-2023 which grows to $1,932 million in 2026-2027.