OTTAWA — The federal government says it is working with the provinces to ensure all working Canadians have access to 10 sick days a year. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the plan Monday during prepared remarks at his daily media briefing.
“Nobody should have to choose between taking a day off work due to illness or being able to pay their bills, just like nobody should have to choose between staying home with COVID-19 symptoms or being able to afford rent or groceries,” he said. “That’s why the government will continue discussions with the provinces without delay on ensuring that as we enter the recovery phase of the pandemic every worker in Canada who needs it has access to 10 days of paid sick leave a year.”
He also said the government will consider other mechanisms for the longer term to support workers with sick leave.
Premier idea
Speaking with reporters, Trudeau said the issue of paid sick leave was first raised on a first ministers’ call by B.C. Premier John Horgan.
“When the fall comes and flu season starts up, we don’t want people who develop a sniffle to suddenly worry that they really shouldn’t go into work, but they can’t afford to not go into work,” he said. “The risk of contributing to a second wave significantly could be a real problem.” Trudeau said the premiers agreed that they need to have a way for people who begin to exhibit symptoms of COVID-19 to be able to stay home for the time necessary to be able to get tested and possibly treated.
“We’ve put forward a number of mechanisms to support people who have lost their job because of COVID-19, but the Canada Emergency Response Benefit is doled out in chunks of four weeks. We recognize … there is a need for a shorter period of time, so discussions (took place) with the provinces around paid sick leave,” he said. “That’s what we’ve agreed to lead with the provinces.”
The New Democrats were quick to take credit for the move in a news release issued shortly after the announcement.
Two weeks (or 10 working days) paid sick leave is something the NDP has been calling for in recent weeks, and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh made his support for the Liberal proposal to extend the suspension of the House of Commons sittings and extend the current special COVID-19 committee setup dependent on introducing paid sick leave for all Canadians.
“We have been clear from the beginning that the government should make sure every worker has access to paid sick leave. We will keep pushing the government to make sure they deliver on this commitment and that they work with provinces to make sick leave for workers permanent going forward,” Singh said in the statement.
Business unusual
On Monday, a small number of MPs debated in West Block how Parliament will continue to do business during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Liberals want to prolong the suspension of the House of Commons and instead continue with the special all-party committee focused on COVID-19. But instead of continuing with the current one in-person meeting with a maximum of 36 MPs, and two online Zoom meetings per week, the Liberals have put forward a motion proposing four hybrid in-person/virtual meetings a week until June 17. The meetings would continue to see a reduced number of MPs physically present in the chamber, and others participating virtually from home via two large screens in the House of Commons chamber.
The Liberals also proposed to hold four additional sittings in July and August that would include a question period to deal with other business not related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Conservatives, on the other hand, want to nix the special committee and resume the regular sitting schedule of the House of Commons in order to bring back parliamentary functions that have been put on hold due to the committee format.
The proposal, which was defeated, suggested a maximum of 50 members physically in the chamber simultaneously, and proposed parties come up with a manner of voting and a mechanism whereby all standing and special committees may hold virtual meetings while exercising the same powers they possess at physical meetings.
As the Conservatives, though not fully satisfied with the Liberal motion, do not plan to block it, it is expected to pass.
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