When the federal government stepped in with an inadequate sick leave plan last year, did it make the problem worse by giving the provinces an excuse to do nothing?
TORONTO The Ontario legislature has officially approved new legislation that will give employees three days of paid emergency leave during COVID-19. The bill was tabled by Labour Minister Monte McNaughton this morning and quickly passed through the legislative process with the support of opposition politicians at Queen s Park. The legislation will give employees three paid days of emergency leave, which McNaughton said could be claimed for a variety of reasons related to COVID-19, including signs of illness, to receive a test, to case for an ill child or to receive a vaccine. While businesses will be expected to foot the upfront costs of the program, the government said it will reimburse business owners up to $200 per day, per employee through the Workplace Safety Insurance Board.
iPolitics By Iain Sherriff-Scott. Published on Apr 29, 2021 5:04pm Ontario Labour Minister Monte McNaughton, pictured at a news conference in June 2020, announced a paid sick leave program on Wednesday. (Richard Lautens/Toronto Star)
Ontario’s legislature passed three days of paid sick leave on Thursday, while opposition parties promised to keep fighting for at least 10 paid days of leave.
The new benefit provides $200 for up to three days that a worker is off sick. The government will reimburse businesses for the cost of the program, which ends on Sept. 25.
Announced Wednesday by Labour Minister Monte McNaughton and Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy, the legislation comes after months of pressure from health-care organizations and the government’s arms-length science advisers.
WBFO Canada Correspondent Dan Karpenchuk reports
Labor leaders, doctors and others have been calling for a paid sick leave benefit in Ontario for months. Critics say workplaces have become hotspots for the spread of the coronavirus because many workers can’t afford to stay home, even when they feel sick. It’s a matter of putting food on the table for their families.
Last week, Ford said his government was working on it. On Wednesday, Labour Minister Monte McNaughton took that further. We’re stepping up today with a generous paid sick day program for workers in Ontario to ensure that we get through COVID-19 and workers stay home when they’re sick, McNaughton said.
iPolitics By iPolitics. Published on Apr 29, 2021 6:02pm Minister of National Defence Harjit Sajjan. (Andrew Meade/iPolitics)
Today’s Evening Brief is brought to you by News Media Canada. It’s time to level the digital playing field. Google and Facebook are using their monopoly to threaten and undermine local news. Other countries are taking action. It’s time for Canada to stand up to the web giants – and step up for local news. Learn more.
Good evening to you.
For the second time in six years, Ottawa is launching an external review into sexual misconduct in the military. The harassment and misconduct probe will be led by former supreme court justice Louise Arbour, Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan announced Thursday. The end product will be “concrete recommendations” on how to set up an independent, external reporting system one which allows victims to report violence and misconduct outside of the military chain of command, and without fear of reprisal.