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The Government of Canada has introduced the Fairness for the Self-Employed Act,
legislation that would extend Employment Insurance (EI) special
benefits, including maternity, parental, sickness and compassionate
care benefits, to the self‑employed.
This measure responds to the Government’s 2008 pledge to help
provide improved economic security and support for all those who are
self-employed. With these
changes, self-employed Canadians would be able to voluntarily opt into
the EI program and receive special benefits. Overall, the special
benefits for self-employed individuals would mirror those currently
available to salaried employees under the EI program.
“About 2.6 million Canadians are self-employed. The majority of them
have long asked for this support, and our government is responding to
this strongly expressed need,” said Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development. “We think that the
self-employed should have the option of getting the same income
protection that salaried employees currently receive when it comes to
major life events.”
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