Ford's rejection of paid sick days puts Ontarians at risk: NDP

QUEEN'S PARK — NDP MPP Jill Andrew (Toronto—St. Paul's) issued the following statement in response to the Ford government voting no—once again—on the NDP's bill to enshrine 10 paid sick days for all workers into law, plus an additional 14 paid sick days during any pandemic:

"The pandemic has made it clearer than ever that paid sick days are critical to the health and safety of every Ontarian. Throughout COVID-19, Doug Ford has forced frontline workers to choose between dragging themselves into work sick and putting their co-workers, families and larger community at risk — or losing a day’s pay and finding it even harder to make ends meet.

Today, the Ford government voted against the NDP's Stay Home if You Are Sick Act — disrespecting workers, yet again. The Ford government has said no to permanent paid sick days now over 25 times.

Doug Ford's measly and temporary three paid sick day program—hard-won by months of pressure from workers, worker’s advocates and the Opposition—ends on Dec. 31.

Workers deserve so much better than a premier whose big cuts and bad choices include ripping up Ontarians’ paid sick days for a second time – a move that will disproportionately impact many women and members of BIPOC communities who have already carried the brunt of this pandemic as essential workers here in Ontario."

MPP Andrew led the debate on the Stay Home if You are Sick Act in the legislature on Nov. 23.