Advocates say financial pressures remain a major burden during treatment
The Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) marked a national advocacy milestone last week after New Brunswick legislation expanding job-protected leave for workers facing serious illness received Royal Assent, completing coverage across every Canadian province.
With New Brunswick’s legislation now in force, every province in Canada provides 26 or 27 weeks of job-protected leave for people facing serious illness. Under the province’s Bill 26, eligible employees — those with more than 90 continuous days of service — are entitled to up to 27 weeks of unpaid leave within any 52-week period.
The milestone follows years of CCS advocacy to build a stronger safety net for working-age Canadians facing cancer. The organization had previously pushed for an extension of the federal Employment Insurance sickness benefit from 15 to 26 weeks, a change that took effect in December 2022, alongside calls for provinces and territories to strengthen job-protected leave.
Growing financial burden
The financial stakes for patients are significant. A 2024 CCS report found that the average cancer patient in Canada faces nearly $33,000 in lifetime costs, including out-of-pocket expenses and lost income during treatment and recovery.
The broader economic impact of cancer is even larger. According to the Canadian Cancer Society’s 2024 special report on the economic impact of cancer in Canada, the disease was projected to cost society $37.7 billion in 2024. While governments and healthcare systems bear much of that burden, people with cancer and their caregivers were expected to shoulder approximately $7.5 billion, or one-fifth of the total cost. Expenses such as travel, accommodation, medications, home care and other non-covered services account for a substantial share of those costs.
CCS has also highlighted the long-term financial consequences of a cancer diagnosis. A survey commissioned by the organization in 2025 found that nearly 80% of working-age Canadians said they would struggle to save for retirement if diagnosed with cancer because of treatment-related expenses and lost income. Respondents identified prescription drugs, travel costs and reduced earnings among their primary financial concerns.
“When Canadians are facing cancer, their focus should be getting better — not worrying about financial hardship and losing their job,” said Andrea Seale, CEO of the Canadian Cancer Society. “New Brunswick’s legislation is an important milestone and a reflection of years of advocacy and collective action by patients, survivors, caregivers, partners and supporters across the country. It shows what is possible when people raise their voices together for better health outcomes.”
Employment protection and recovery
Stuart Edmonds, executive vice-president of mission, research and advocacy at CCS, welcomed the bill when it was introduced earlier this year.
“There are already enough challenges that come with a cancer diagnosis, and worrying about whether your job will be there when treatment is done shouldn’t be one of them,” Edmonds said. “By expanding job protection for people facing serious illnesses to 27 weeks, the government of New Brunswick is showing strong, compassionate leadership. This is a critical step forward, reflecting growing momentum across Canada to better support people living with cancer so they can focus on recovery without fear of job loss.”
During the bill’s second reading, Alyson Townsend, New Brunswick’s minister responsible for labour, said the 27 weeks of job-protected leave could be taken in increments of one week, recognizing that many illnesses and injuries do not follow a linear path, CBC reported.
The legislation arrives as cancer remains one of Canada’s most significant health challenges. The Canadian Cancer Society estimates that about 247,100 Canadians were diagnosed with cancer in 2024 and approximately 88,100 died from the disease. Although cancer mortality rates have generally declined over recent decades, population growth and an aging population continue to drive the number of new diagnoses higher.
Survivor advocacy
Isabelle Allain-Labelle, a breast cancer survivor who was diagnosed at age 35, joined CCS in advocating for the legislation.
“I was fortunate to have job protection from my employer, but prior to today, too many New Brunswickers with cancer didn’t have that same peace of mind,” she said. “That’s why I joined the Canadian Cancer Society in advocating to government for this change. Today, I am thrilled to see that work has paid off — it’s a powerful example of what we can achieve when we take action together.”
While the legislation completes provincial coverage across Canada, CCS said its advocacy efforts are not over. The organization said it will continue to work with territorial governments to advance the same protections beyond the provinces.
