Fairness for the Self-Employed Act passed by Parliament

January 22, 2010

Barrie, ON – The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, is pleased that Bill C-56, the Fairness for the Self-Employed Act, has received Royal Assent. The legislation extends Employment Insurance (EI) maternity, parental, sickness and compassionate care benefits, collectively referred to as special benefits, to the self-employed on a voluntary basis.

“Thanks to this new initiative, self-employed Canadians will no longer have to choose between their family and their business responsibilities,” said Minister Finley. “It is good family policy, and it represents one of the most significant enhancements to the EI program in the last decade.”

“This government is pleased to be providing these Canadians with greater peace of mind with respect to their future financial security,” commented MP Brown. “The self-employed have previously had little or no income protection to cope with major life events such as giving birth, caring for a newborn or newly adopted child, being sick or injured, or caring for a gravely ill family member.”

The new measure responds to the Governments’ 2008 pledge to help provide improved economic security and support for all those who are self-employed. The self-employed who choose to take advantage of the special benefits will be required to opt into the program at least one year prior to claiming benefits. Subject to final approval of regulations, they will be able to voluntarily opt into the EI program effective January 31, 2010, and, as a transitional measure, will be able to collect benefits as early as January 1, 2011, if they have registered on or before April 1, 2010. Special benefits for self-employed individuals will mirror those currently available to salaried employees under the EI program.