May 2026: Pre-budget submission to the House of Commons Standing Committee of Finance 

Caregivers are the glue holding together our economy, our communities, and our society. They support seniors to age at home, enable people with disabilities to enjoy full and productive lives, and help Canadians with mental health and addictions challenges on their path to recovery. One in four Canadians is a caregiver today, providing the equivalent of $97.1 billion worth of care if they were replaced by paid jobs. Meanwhile, care takes a toll out of the pocketbook of those who provide care. 

According to our latest data: 

•  49% of caregivers face financial strain, with one in five spending more than $12,000 annually out of pocket.  

• More than 20% of caregivers report having to stop saving entirely, putting their long-term financial security at risk. 
  

In this policy submission for Budget 2026, we draw on data from Caring in Canada 2026 as well as the policy recommendations from A National Caregiving Strategy for Canada to urge the federal government to implement solutions to ease financial pressures for caregivers in Canada.