Minister Don Morgan (Lisa Schick/980 CJME)
While members of the public is being told to stay home if they feel sick, some can’t afford to miss the hours at work.
However, the provincial government is pushing calls for paid sick leave over to the federal government.
On Wednesday, Ontario’s government introduced a program for three days of paid sick leave, capitulating after days of back and forth between it, the opposition party, and the federal government.
However, it doesn’t look like Saskatchewan’s government will be doing the same.
Labour Relations Minister Don Morgan said he believes the federal government should be taking that on. He said the federal government should take some of the millions it still has in the safe restart fund and use it to expand the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit, which can already be used to help someone who has to stay home from work.
Unions critical of provincial paid sick leave plan April 29, 2021 at 11 h 29 min Reading time: 1 min 30 s
By Nick Seebruch
ONTARIO – The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Ontario both issued statements on Wednesday, April 28 critical of the provincial government’s announced paid sick leave plan.
The provincial plan would require employers to provide employees with three paid sick days of up to $200 per day. The program is limited to April 19 to Sept. 25 2021, which is the date that the federal Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) expires.
Both the ETFO and CUPE criticized this plan, with ETFO characterizing it as a ‘half-measure.’
What is and isn't 'paid sick leave' in Canada? A short primer theglobeandmail.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from theglobeandmail.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Ontario Today wants your reaction to Ontario s new paid sick leave plan on Thursday s show.
Social Sharing
CBC News ·
Posted: Apr 29, 2021 10:00 AM ET | Last Updated: April 29
Labour Minister Monte McNaughton, right, adjusts his mask as he stands alongside Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy while announcing the provincial government s paid sick leave plan on Wednesday.(Chris Young/The Canadian Press)
SHARE ON: (Supplied by Kelly Sikkema Unsplash)
Paid sick days will be covered by the province of Ontario. In a new COVID-19 Worker Protection Program Benefit, full or part-time workers who have symptoms of COVID-19, mental health-related issues because of the pandemic, or need time off to get vaccinated will be covered.
Eligible employees will be paid up to $200 a day for three days. Businesses will be reimbursed for what they pay through the provincial WSIB program. The province will be topping up the federal Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit meaning workers could be paid up to $1,000 a week. But that is only if the federal government agrees to Ontario’s proposal of doubling the federal program. If the new provincial legislation is passed the payments are retroactive to April 19