An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act (illness, injury or quarantine)

Bill C-215 in 44-1 was a Bloc Quebecois Private Member's Bill amending the Employment Insurance Act (S.C. 1996, c. 23) to extend the EI sickness-benefit duration for severely ill workers from the 26-week maximum to 50 weeks. The bill responded to long-standing advocacy by patient groups including the Canadian Cancer Society (cancer treatment frequently extends 12-18 months for advanced cases) and the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Bill C-215 received first reading in 2022; the federal government's competing Bill C-31 of 44-1 (S.C. 2022, c. 17, royal assent November 17, 2022, in force December 18, 2022) extended EI sickness benefits from 15 to 26 weeks (not 50). The Bloc continued to advocate for the full 50-week extension; did not pass third reading on its own.