Terminal Illness & End-of-Life Administration in Canada: 5-Step Official Checklist

1. 1

   Coordinating specialist palliative care, home care, and hospice services

   Begin by asking the person's primary physician, nurse practitioner, or hospital specialist for a referral to the provincial or territorial home and community palliative care program [1].

   • Home and hospice care: Provincial health authorities coordinate multidisciplinary palliative teams (nurses, pain specialists, occupational therapists, and personal support workers) for home care, outpatient clinics, or residential hospice placement [1]. You can also locate regional hospices and support resources through the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association [2].
   • Palliative drug and equipment benefits: Ask the care coordinator to register the person in the applicable provincial palliative care drug plan (such as Ontario's Palliative Care Facilitated Access program, BC Palliative Care Benefits Plan B, or Alberta's Palliative Coverage program) so prescribed symptom-management medications and medical supplies at home are covered.
2. 2

   Preparing and registering a written Advance Directive and emergency care plan

   While the person has capacity to express their treatment goals, document their healthcare preferences in writing so clinicians and family members have clear instructions [1][3].

   • Written Advance Care Plan or Directive: Depending on the province or territory, this document is known as an Advance Healthcare Directive, Personal Directive, Representation Agreement, or Living Will [2][3]. Resources and province-specific workbooks from Advance Care Planning Canada help structure preferences regarding pain relief, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, mechanical ventilation, and preferred place of care [3].
   • Clinical emergency orders: Have the treating physician or nurse practitioner translate these wishes into an active clinical order kept at home for paramedics and emergency staff (such as a Goals of Care Designation in Alberta, a Medical Order for Scope of Treatment in British Columbia, or a Do Not Resuscitate Confirmation Form in Ontario) [1][3].
3. 3

   Executing financial and healthcare Powers of Attorney and bank mandates

   A person can only sign a Power of Attorney while they retain the legal mental capacity to understand the nature and effect of the appointment [1][2].

   • Healthcare and Personal Care Substitute Decision-Maker: Execute the legally witnessed provincial instrument appointing a substitute decision-maker for medical and personal care decisions (for example, a Power of Attorney for Personal Care in Ontario, a Representation Agreement in British Columbia, a Personal Directive in Alberta, or a Protection Mandate / Mandat de protection in Quebec) [2][3].
   • Financial and Property Power of Attorney: Execute a Continuing or Enduring Power of Attorney for Property (or Protection Mandate in Quebec) so the chosen representative can pay bills, manage real estate, and deal with government agencies if capacity declines [1][2].
   • Bank mandates: Provide certified copies of the Continuing or Enduring Power of Attorney directly to the person's financial institutions early, as banks often verify the document through their internal legal teams before granting account access.
4. 4

   Accessing statutory caregiver leave and Employment Insurance caregiving benefits

   Family members or close friends ("like family") who reduce their work hours to provide care or support can apply for federal income support and provincial job-protected leave [4].

   • EI Compassionate Care Benefits: Administered by Service Canada, Employment Insurance (EI) Compassionate Care Benefits provide up to 26 weeks of income support (at 55% of average insurable weekly earnings up to the statutory maximum) to care for a person who has a significant risk of death within 26 weeks [2][4]. The Weeks can be shared among eligible caregivers within a 52-week window [4].
   • EI Family Caregiver Benefits: If the person is critically ill or injured without an immediate 26-week terminal prognosis, Service Canada also administers Family Caregiver Benefits for Adults (up to 15 weeks) [4].
   • How to apply: Ask the treating medical doctor or nurse practitioner to sign the official Medical Certificate for Employment Insurance Compassionate Care Benefits, request a Record of Employment from the employer, and submit the application online via Service Canada as soon as work earnings decrease by more than 40% [4]. Remember to notify the employer in writing to claim matching unpaid job-protected compassionate care leave under provincial or federal labour standards.
5. 5

   Organizing the will, beneficiary nominations, vital documents, and future estate steps

   Reviewing estate and benefit records in advance prevents delays and protects the executor and surviving family members later:

   • Will and beneficiary designations: Verify that the person has a valid, properly witnessed Will naming an executor (liquidator in Quebec), and confirm that designated beneficiaries on life insurance policies, RRSPs, RRIFs, TFSAs, and occupational pensions are current.
   • Vital documents and pension records: Gather birth and marriage certificates, Social Insurance Number (SIN) details, property deeds, and account statements. Note whether the person contributed to the Canada Pension Plan (administered by Service Canada, which provides the one-time CPP Death Benefit and monthly Survivor's Pension) or the Quebec Pension Plan (administered by Retraite Québec) [5].
   • Future tax and probate requirements: Ensure the named executor knows that after a death, they will need to apply for provincial Probate (Certificate of Appointment of Estate Trustee) where required, file the Final T1 Return and any T3 Trust returns with the Canada Revenue Agency, and request an official Clearance Certificate (Form TX19) from the Canada Revenue Agency after Notices of Assessment are issued and before distributing estate assets [6].

Official Authorities & Verified Contacts

Official Sources Checked by Clarvia

1. [1]
   Palliative care: Preparing and deciding — Government of Canada (Canada.ca)
2. [2]
   Advance Care Planning and Hospice Palliative Care in Canada — Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association (CHPCA)
3. [3]
   Advance Care Planning Across Canada: Provincial and Territorial Resources — Advance Care Planning Canada
4. [4]
   EI Caregiving benefits and leave: What caregiving benefits offer — Government of Canada / Service Canada
5. [5]
   Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Death Benefit and Survivor's Pension — Government of Canada / Service Canada
6. [6]
   Clearance certificate (Form TX19) and Final Return for a Deceased Person — Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)