New Legislation Extends Family Benefits to Self-Employed Realtors!

According to a press release today from the Canadian Real Estate Association, Realtors can now participate in some EI benefits such as maternity and compassionate care leave. The program does not include regular income replacement as we could technically lay ourselves off. If we choose to participate we can start paying premiums this January but claims won't be paid out until January of 2011. The new legislation provides maternity benefits (up to 15 weeks), parental and adoptive benefits (up to 35 weeks), sickness benefits (up to 15 weeks), and compassionate care benefits (up to 6 weeks).