![]() The province has argued repeatedly that the federal program was adequate as a reason not to implement a provincial program, with Ford saying earlier this year he didn't want to double-up on existing measures. We advocated to the federal government to improve this program." On that, he replied, "We moved decisively when COVID-19 hit the province. McNaughton was also asked why it took the province so long to respond to the repeated calls for such a measure. "We certainly had lots of advice from the medical community," McNaughton said, pivoting to the province's disappointment with the lack of additional sick leave measures in the federal budget. #COVID19Ontario /lKa9R8FocA- the United States, the introduction of a temporary paid sick leave resulted in an estimated 50 per cent reduction in the number of COVID-19 cases per state per day," the brief points out.Īsked if the province consulted with its own science advisory table on the plan, the labour minister did not answer definitively. Nathan Stall, a member of the table, tweeted on Wednesday.ġ/6 Ontario needs EFFECTIVE sick leave. "Ontario workers need 10 days of adequate #PaidSickLeave that is easily accessible, immediately paid and supports them in following all public health measures," Dr. Accessible paid leave needed, science advisory table saysįollowing the announcement, Ontario's science advisory table responded with a brief that outlined the benefits of an effective sick pay program. ![]() On the same day as Ford's emotional news conference, Ontario's finance minister wrote a letter to the federal government detailing the proposal.Ĭritics have long pointed out the federal benefit pays less than a full-time minimum wage job, involves days, if not weeks, of processing time and doesn't guarantee job security for workers who use it. Last week, Premier Doug Ford pledged that Ontario would soon unveil details of a paid sick leave program, claiming it would be "the best program anywhere in North America, bar none."īut as reported by CBC News, the Ford government initially sought to top up the federal program, rather than create its own. Later, during a press conference, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said provinces need to look at delivering sick leave through employers, which he said Ottawa can’t do. ![]() WATCH | Trudeau responds to Ontario's offer to double sick leave payments:ĭuration 1:36 During Question Period at Queen’s Park Tuesday, Ontario’s Minister of Labour Monte McNaughton said the province is calling on the federal government to double payments under its sick leave program from $500 a week to $1,000 a week, with Ontario picking up the extra cost. Ottawa earlier this week rejected an offer by the province to top up the program, saying the federal benefit is designed to support workers who don't have a regular employer, or as a stop gap until their province mandates paid sick days. Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Ontario Labour Minister Monte McNaughton also said the province has offered to cover the cost of doubling the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit payments, adding an additional $500 per week to eligible individuals, for a total of $1,000 per week. If the legislation is passed, the program will be administered through the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board and employers will be reimbursed in full, the province says. The sick days would not need to be taken consecutively and no sick note is required. The proposed Ontario COVID-19 Worker Protection Benefit Program would pay up to $200 per day for workers who are sick, have symptoms, have a mental health issue or need to be vaccinated, and will be retroactive to April 19. After months of urgent calls about the need for paid sick leave by medical professionals, labour advocates, political leaders and even top doctors from some of the province's hardest-hit regions, the Ontario government has announced a plan to provide three paid sick days through a temporary program ending in September.
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