It’s time to act on care!

A national caregiving strategy for Canada

February 18, 2025–Canada is one of the few high-income countries without a national strategy to support caregivers. There are two kinds of caregivers, unpaid (like family and friends) and paid (like nurses, aides, and home care workers). One in four Canadians give care to a family member, friend, or neighbour, and half will be a caregiver to a loved one in their lifetime. This means there are millions of caregivers in Canada who are not getting the support they need.

Unpaid caregivers frequently carry a heavy burden, needing to provide care to a loved one while in school, working, raising children, or after retirement. They are often unprepared for the physical and psychological tasks they face as carers. Paid caregivers are subject to stress, overwork, and low wages.

The Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence (CCCE) has released a National Caregiving Strategy, made through consultations with caregiving, aging and disability experts. Oliver, our Young Carers Coordinator, has been a part of the process. CCCE’s Strategy is intended as a roadmap for the federal government to fulfill their 2024 promise to develop a national caregiving strategy. This strategy is aimed at people receiving care, their caregivers, and the professionals that support them.

What are the goals of the Strategy?

Improve supports, programs, and services for caregivers, so they can maintain their own well-being while fulfilling caregiving responsibilities.

Support caregivers in the workforce and education, so they can better manage the responsibilities of providing care and their work.

Support care recipients, so their care needs do not compromise the quality of their life.

Build a sustainable care provider workforce by valuing paid care providers with higher wages, better training, and clear pathways to permanent residency for migrant carers.

Show leadership and recognition, so Canadians know caregiving is a priority, and provinces, territories, businesses, and others can follow in the federal government’s footsteps.

On a practical level, the Strategy outlines suggestions to…

Make the Canada Caregiver Credit refundable, so that rather than lowering taxes paid to the government, it is a cash-in-hand tax return for caregivers.

Introduce public care insurance to give Canadians more choice and security in accessing care
services.

Adapt the Canada Pension Plan and student loans to encourage workforce and education participation without penalizing caregivers for lowering their hours or taking a leave of absence.

Model caregiver-friendly workplace policies and improve caregiver leaves and benefits.

Improve the Disability Tax Credit, Registered Disability Savings Plan, and Canada Disability Benefit, and make the application processes easier.

What does this mean for families who have a loved one living with a mental health condition?

Friends and family members supporting a loved one with a mental illness are even more overlooked and underrecognized than other caregivers. Tailored supports are needed for the particular difficulties that mental health challenges pose, especially in their overlap with legal issues, housing insecurity, and substance use, and especially with the mental health crisis we are currently facing.

What does it mean for young carers?

The amendments to student loans would mean that young people don’t have to choose between caring for a family member and furthering their education. A call is included for needs assessments for young carers, and for child welfare professionals to be properly equipped to assess their situations. Once all of the policies that promote stability and wellbeing for families with care obligations are in place, it should lower the need for youth to take on care responsibilities.

Where can I learn more? How can I get involved?

Visit canadiancaregiving.org to read the full strategy. You can help make caregiving a central pillar of Canada’s future. Visit canadiancaregiving.org/act to add your voice to demand federal action.