A Canadian Independent Contractor Agreement for Caregiver Services is a contract between a client (or a family acting on behalf of a care recipient) and an independent caregiver that establishes the terms of a personal care engagement. This agreement defines the working relationship as one of independent contracting rather than employment, which affects tax obligations, benefits eligibility, liability, and privacy compliance under Canadian federal and provincial law.

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) applies the four-fold test from the Supreme Court of Canada's decision in 671122 Ontario Ltd. v. Sagaz Industries to determine whether a caregiver is an employee or independent contractor. The CRA examines the degree of control the client exercises over how the care is delivered, ownership of tools and supplies, the caregiver's chance of profit and risk of loss, and the degree of integration into the client's household. If the CRA reclassifies a caregiver as an employee, the client faces retroactive liability for unpaid Canada Pension Plan (CPP) contributions, Employment Insurance (EI) premiums, and income tax source deductions, plus penalties and interest.

This template is specifically designed for caregivers who operate their own independent care business, serve multiple clients, control their own care methods, and provide their own supplies. Clients who hire a caregiver exclusively to work in their home on a fixed schedule under detailed instructions should consider an employment agreement instead, as the CRA is likely to classify that arrangement as employment.

Caregivers handle extremely sensitive personal health information, making privacy compliance paramount. The agreement must address obligations under the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) at the federal level, and potentially under provincial health privacy legislation such as Ontario's Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA), Alberta's Health Information Act, or British Columbia's Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA).

The agreement covers the scope of care services, schedule flexibility, compensation in Canadian dollars, vehicle provision, GST/HST obligations, termination provisions, force majeure, mutual indemnification, and confidentiality obligations. It provides both parties with a clear framework that defines their rights and responsibilities while supporting the caregiver's independent contractor classification.

This agreement is needed when a client engages a caregiver who genuinely operates as an independent contractor rather than an employee. The caregiver should operate their own registered care business or freelance care service, serve multiple clients, control their own methods and care approaches, provide their own supplies where applicable, and maintain their own liability insurance.

The agreement is appropriate for part-time, occasional, or regular care arrangements where the caregiver maintains their own client base and sets their own availability. It is suitable for caregivers who provide non-medical personal care services such as meal preparation, light housekeeping, transportation to appointments, medication reminders, companionship, and assistance with daily living activities.

Clients who require full-time, live-in care from a caregiver who works exclusively in the client's home and follows the client's detailed instructions about care routines should use an employment agreement instead. The CRA's published guidance on employing caregivers, baby-sitters, and domestic workers states that if you hire a caregiver who works in your home, they are generally considered your employee.

The agreement is particularly important when the caregiver will handle financial tasks such as paying bills, making deposits, or dealing with insurance claims on behalf of the client. These responsibilities require clear authorization, defined boundaries, and confidentiality protections to prevent potential elder financial abuse and ensure compliance with provincial consumer protection legislation.

When the client has a disability or medical condition that qualifies for the Disability Tax Credit, this agreement provides documentation supporting any claims for attendant care expenses under section 64 of the Income Tax Act or medical expenses under section 118.2. The agreement creates a clear record of the care arrangement, the services provided, and the amounts paid.

The agreement must identify both parties with their full legal names and Canadian addresses. If the caregiver operates under a registered business name, this should be included to reinforce independent contractor status for CRA classification purposes.

The CRA classification notice explicitly warns both parties that the CRA typically classifies in-home caregivers as employees and recommends requesting a ruling using Form CPT1. This notice protects both parties by ensuring they understand the reclassification risk before entering the agreement.

The independent contractor status clause must address each element of the CRA's four-fold test: the caregiver controls the methods and approach to providing care; the caregiver supplies their own materials and equipment where applicable; the caregiver bears financial risk and has the opportunity for profit through serving multiple clients; and the caregiver is not integrated into the client's household as an employee.

The scope of services section must describe all care duties in detail, including personal care, meal preparation, housekeeping, transportation, medication management, financial assistance, and health monitoring. The schedule section should describe the arrangement (as-needed or fixed hours) while noting the caregiver's discretion over specific care methods.

Compensation provisions must specify the rate (hourly, daily, or weekly), the amount in Canadian dollars, the payment frequency, and the payment method. The tax clause must state that the caregiver is responsible for reporting income to the CRA, remitting CPP self-employment contributions, and charging GST/HST if applicable.

The confidentiality clause must address the protection of the client's personal health information, financial records, and private details, referencing PIPEDA and any applicable provincial health privacy legislation. This clause should survive termination and prohibit the caregiver from disclosing any client information to third parties without authorization.

Vehicle provisions should specify whether the client provides a vehicle for transportation duties, and if so, require the caregiver to maintain a valid driver's licence and comply with provincial motor vehicle and insurance requirements. The mutual indemnification clause protects both parties from losses arising from the other party's negligence or failure to comply with the agreement.