The Canadian government is set to announce new measures Friday that aim to make it easier for parents of missing or murdered children to take time off work and grieve.
APTN obtained an email from the office of Families Minister Jean-Yves Duclos stating the government is offering a new “Canadian Benefit for Parents of Young Victims of Crime” grant. This aims to be a more flexible, inclusive version of an existing federal grant for parents coping with the tragic loss of a child.
The new plan will increase the weekly grant payment, change the age limit of the young victim, extend the period in which parents can receive the grant and allow those parents to work while receiving the grant.
Under the current model, parents are entitled to the grant if their child is under age 18 and has been missing for over a week as of Jan. 1, 2013.
The parents are not entitled to the grant if the child was a willing participant in a crime that lead to his or her death.
