On June 23, Federal Minister of State for Seniors Alice Wong announced the launch of the Canadian Employers for Caregivers Plan (CECP) at the first meeting of its newly-established Employer Panel for Caregivers.

There are currently 6.1 million employed Canadians who are providing care to a family member or friend, and the demands of caregiving creates a number of challenges in the workplace such as conflicting hours and the need for flexibility in order to deal with emergencies. In the 2014 budget, the Conservative government committed to working with employers to find ways to help these informal caregivers participate more fully in the labour market.

The Employer Panel for Caregivers is comprised of industry leaders from small, medium and large-sized businesses, as well as expert advisors, who will study promising workplace practices that could be applied more widely.

“Our government will work with employers through the Canadian Employers for Caregivers Plan to help identify cost-effective solutions to support employed caregivers, helping them achieve a better balance of work and caring responsibilities,” said Ms. Wong.