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Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his wife Laureen, left, make cookies with ten-year-old brain cancer survivor Baxton Wacholtz, right, and his mom Michelle, of Telkwa, B.C., during a photo opportunity at Ronald McDonald House in Vancouver, B.C., on Tuesday August 7, 2012. The young boy is still undergoing treatment for other complications and he and his family stay at the facility when they are in Vancouver for treatment. Harper announced parents who need to take time off work to care for a child due to critical illness or injury would be able to apply for up to 35 weeks of employment insurance. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Parents with sick children can make employment insurance claims: Harper

VANCOUVER – Canadian parents will soon be able to claim extra employment insurance while they look after their critically ill or injured child.

The changes mean parents can apply for up to 35 weeks of benefits while they’re off work because of a sick child.

Currently, parents can claim just six weeks of employment insurance in such cases.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced the additional benefits while visiting an elementary school in Vancouver.

The benefits are expected to be available starting in June next year for as many as 6,000 parents.

Harper says the change is part of his government’s wider effort to help parents balance work and family.

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