Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the federal government is talking to the provinces about bringing in 10 days of paid sick leave for workers — something the NDP demanded in exchange for supporting the Liberals’ plan to extend the suspension of the House of Commons during the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the federal government is talking to the provinces about bringing in 10 days of paid sick leave for workers — something the NDP demanded in exchange for supporting the Liberals’ plan to extend the suspension of the House of Commons during the novel coronavirus pandemic.
“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,” Trudeau said during his prepared remarks this morning at his daily press conference.
“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 ten days of paid sick leave a year. And we’ll also consider other mechanisms for the longer term to support workers with sick leave.”
The federal NDP conditioned its support for suspending the full House of Commons sitting schedule on getting a commitment from the Liberal government to bring in paid sick leave for all Canadians and supports for people with disabilities struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Just moments after Trudeau announced the ongoing negotiations with the provinces, NDP Leader Singh sent out a statement claiming victory.
“As more and more businesses are being asked to reopen, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh secured two weeks of paid sick leave for every worker in Canada by pushing the federal government to act,” reads the statement.
“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.”
WATCH | Trudeau questioned about paid sick leave plan:
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with reporters on Monday. 2:40
Singh later told CBC News that he had secured commitments from Trudeau for two stages of a national sick leave guarantee.
The first stage is short term and involves making sure that those who need sick leave get it, so that as the economy reopens they don’t feel pressured to go to work and risk spreading the virus to their co-workers or customers.
The federal government, Singh said, should pick up the cost for this near-term program by modifying an existing program such as the CERB or the federal wage subsidy, because provinces and businesses are not in a position to take on new expenses right now.
“In our conversation, [Trudeau] said ‘Yes that is something we can do,'” Singh told CBC News.
“I’m not worried about the actual mechanism. I want to see a real path for someone who gets sick to not have to make that impossible choice — do they go to work rising exposure to their colleagues … or do they stay home and, without having paid sick leave, not know how they are going to pay their bills? That is a choice that I don’t want anyone to have to make.”
Singh said Trudeau’s second commitment was for the longer term and involves the federal government working with provinces and businesses to share the costs of a sick leave program that would ensure all working Canadians receive paid sick leave.