Paid sick days can’t wait with school starting this week: Horwath

QUEEN’S PARK — With school starting this week, and Doug Ford taking his whole government into hiding, Official Opposition NDP Leader Andrea Horwath says working families can’t wait any longer for the government to beef up paid sick days.

Doug Ford didn’t want to bring in paid sick days. Now that he has made three measly paid sick days available temporarily, he’s not helping workers access them. Most of the funding Ford set aside — 96 per cent — is unused.

“Three paid sick days won’t be enough for some families to get to the end of September, let alone the school year,” said Horwath. “What happens if your child has to self-isolate for 10 days and you can only afford to take three days off? What happens if you use up your three paid sick days staying home from work because you have symptoms, and then your child wakes up with symptoms on day four?

“It’s shocking that we’re in the fourth wave of COVID-19 and Doug Ford is nowhere to be found. Instead of calling the legislature back, Ford is abdicating his responsibility during a public health crisis. He’s doubling down on the same old bad choices that caused such devastation and disruption for families last year.”

The NDP will bring back the Stay Home If You Are Sick Actas soon as Doug Ford’s selfish prorogation delay ends and will fight for its quick passage. Put forward by Labour critic Peggy Sattler, the bill aims to establish 14 government-funded paid sick days while the pandemic is ongoing.

“Ontarians need to be able to stay home if they’re sick or need to self-isolate if we are going to blunt the fourth wave of COVID-19,” said Horwath. “The government must expand and help people access paid sick days now because kids are returning to school, and in-class learning is at risk.”

Horwath and Ontario’s New Democrats believe a safe September must include paid sick days and family care days.