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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Ignatieff unveils $1-B plan to care for sick, dying

By: Kevin Rollason

Posted: 01/15/2011 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Enlarge Image

Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff (standing) and Terry Duguid speak at a town hall in Winnipeg Friday. Ignatieff said Manitoba is important to the Liberals’ hopes of winning a federal election.

Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff has unveiled plans to help 600,000 Canadian families look after their sick or dying loved ones.

And Ignatieff said Manitoba is a crucial province on his party's road to become the governing party again.

Ignatieff said during a town hall on Friday if his party is elected it would implement a new Family Care Plan, which would cost $1 billion per year.

He said the plan would include a six-month Family Care Employment Insurance Benefit, to help Canadians care for gravely ill family members at home without having to leave their jobs, and a Family Care Tax Benefit, to help defray the costs for low- and middle-income family caregivers looking after family members in their homes.

Ignatieff said it would cost $1 billion annually, but the Liberals would pay for it by cancelling the Harper government's $6 billion corporate tax break.

"The current EI isn't flexible enough," he said.

"Six hundred thousand of the most vulnerable Canadian families will be helped.

"This is what the Liberal party stands for."

The Family Care EI benefit would expand what currently is a six-week program to six months and give more flexible eligibility requirements from the current doctor's note saying the family member is "gravely ill with a significant risk of death within 26 weeks."

The EI benefit would cost $250 million per year and help about 30,000 family caregivers.

The Family Care Tax benefit would pay lower-and middle-class income family caregivers, no matter their employment circumstances but with family incomes of less than $106,000, a tax-free monthly payment worth up to $1,350 per year. It would help about 600,000 family caregivers look after their family members at home and cost about $750 million.

Winnipeg South Liberal MP candidate Terry Duguid, who hosted the town hall, said Ignatieff was "talking about the priorities of Liberals and one of them is home care.

"It takes care of the people who built this country at home instead of in a hospital. This is a way to save Treasury money and also provide humane care."

Meanwhile, Ignatieff praised new Winnipeg North Liberal MP Kevin Lamoureux for his recent election victory.

"We want to paint Winnipeg red," he said.

"Mr. Harper has been in power for five years -- is the Canadian middle class better off?

"I am not seeking an election, but if there is an election we want to frame up the alternative."

Ignatieff said Manitoba is very significant in the Liberal election plans.

"It is hugely significant for us to be a national party," he said.

"We have fantastic MP candidates -- and I'm beside one here," Ignatieff added, pointing to Duguid.

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition January 15, 2011 A8

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