Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he will begin talks with the provinces about the establishment of a guaranteed sick day plan for Canadian workers that would provide everyone with 10 paid sick days per year.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh had been calling for the sick leave plan over the weekend, and made it a condition of his party’s support for Trudeau’s plan to increase virtual stings of Parliament.
“Trudeau said he conferred with the NDP leader over the weekend about this issue. “Nobody should have to choose between taking a day off work due to illness, or being able to pay their bills,” Trudeau said today.
Trudeau said the issue was first raised by BC Premier Horgan, was whether come fall flu season, people would be able to stay home without economic impact should they develop COVID-19-like symptoms. The prime minister said he agreed it will be important that anyone who feels ill have the ability to not go into work and rather go get a test to limit the risk of a second wave.
With regard to calls to resume more regular sessions of Parliament, the government is suggesting that MPs continue the current meetings of the special all-party committee focused on COVID-19 meet four days a week — Monday through Thursday — in a hybrid fashion that would allow some MPs to participate in-person, while others can take part from their homes, through screens set up inside the Chamber. The motion allows MPs to question the government on non-COVID-19 matters, either in person or by joining in virtually, though concerns remain about representation inside the House from MPs from across the country given the propensity of technical and connectivity issues experienced to date. With NDP support in hand, and the Bloc apparently not opposed to the proposal, it is likely to pass.
Leave a comment