Wednesday, May 05, 2021
After months of calling for the implementation of paid sick days for all Ontarians, it was with a mixture of relief, hope, frustration, and disappointment that I learned the details of the government’s much-touted sick leave program last week.
I am encouraged to see the government demonstrate flexibility and a willingness to correct course, and I know that those three days will be useful to those who need them.
However, if we have learned anything over the past fourteen months, is that we cannot beat COVID-19 with half measures. And a temporary program that only offers three paid sick days is a far cry from what experts have long been advocating for.
My concern about the insufficiency of this plan echoes that of medical experts, including the province’s COVID-19 science advisory table, who have said the government’s plan falls far short of what is needed and have unequivocally stated that it will not be enough to bring Ontario to the best case pandemic scenario by June. Others have noted that, as the duration of COVID-19 is at least ten days, this program will still force workers to make the terrible choice of going without pay or going to work sick.
In addition to the three paid sick days, the government has pointed to its proposed plan to augment the federal government’s Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit. But time and time again, experts have pointed to the shortcomings of that plan, noting that many people cannot afford to go without pay for the days or weeks of processing time the administration of that program requires.
Finally, while the increasing rates of vaccination among Ontarians are encouraging, there is no evidence to suggest that COVID-19 will be eliminated from our lives and communities by September 25, when Ontario's paid sick day provisions are set to end. Given the province’s own vaccination timeline and the sixteen-week-interval between doses for most vaccine recipients, it is possible that not all Ontarians will even be fully vaccinated by that point.
When this pandemic began, the common refrain was that we were all in this together. I still believe that to be true. I have seen the people of Ontario make tremendous collective sacrifices. I have seen them go above and beyond to keep their families, their workplaces, and the entire province, going. I have seen them give their all to the fight against COVID-19.
The people of Ontario have not stopped at half-measures.
AMAPCEO urges the government to listen to the experts and institute a permanent, comprehensive, easily accessible sick leave program.
A single step in the right direction while laudable is not enough. Let’s go all the way.
Dave Bulmer
President & CEO