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ARTICLE · 09 MARCH 2004

Employee & Labour Relations Bulletin

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On March 2, 2004, the Ontario government announced that it would table legislation this Spring that would provide for up to eight weeks of unpaid, job-protected time off work for employees taking care of seriously ill family members.

CanadaEmployment and HR
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Ontario Announces New Compassionate Leave Plan

On March 2, 2004, the Ontario government announced that it would table legislation this Spring that would provide for up to eight weeks of unpaid, job-protected time off work for employees taking care of seriously ill family members.

The planned Ontario legislation is expected to complement the federal compassionate care benefits program that came into effect on January 4, 2004. Under that program, employees are eligible for up to six weeks of federal compassionate care benefits, after a two-week "waiting period" of unpaid leave.

The purpose of the Ontario legislation is to alleviate the stress on employees who are struggling to care for seriously ill family members, and who may not otherwise take a leave, for fear of losing their employment. According to the Ontario Minister of Labour, the Honourable Chris Bentley, "employees who have taken job-protected family medical leave tend to return to their workplace better able to focus on

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