Ontario to extend paid sick day program until the end of July 2022
Ontario will be extending its paid sick leave program until at least July 2022, with the province's labour minister reaffirming his commitment to keep the legislation active until after the pandemic is over.
The program, which offers up to three paid sick days per employee, was set to expire at the end of December after a previous extension.
In a news release issued Tuesday afternoon, the Doug Ford government confirmed the program will be extended until July 31, 2022. Officials said the sick days will help workers take time off to get their COVID-19 booster shots or to take time to get children vaccinated.
Speaking with CTV News Toronto earlier in the day, Ontario Minister of Labour Monte McNaughton said that he remains committed to offering three paid sick days throughout the pandemic.
"I'll keep my word and we'll make sure that those paid sick days are there as long as COVID is here," he said. "This is front and centre for me. It's a priority. I will make sure that workers have paid sick days throughout this entire pandemic. I'll keep my word on that and we'll have more to say soon."
The legislation requires that employers provide employees with up to $200 of pay for up to three days missed due to COVID-19. Businesses are then reimbursed through the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board.
McNaughton says that more than 200,000 workers have used the program so far. Employees can use the three sick days to get their COVID-19 vaccine, get a COVID-19 test, self-isolate or care for a family member. McNaughton also said that people can use them as mental health days.
However, it is unclear if the program will remain in place after the pandemic is declared an endemic. When asked if the Ford government will make the sick leave program permanent, McNaughton did not provide a clear answer, saying only that his commitment was related to the pandemic.
"Again, my commitment to workers is that those paid sick days will be there during this pandemic," he said while hinting that there will be "more to come on the paid sick days" as well as other workplace protections.
The Ford government axed a Liberal provincial paid sick leave program in 2018 shortly after they were elected. At the time, the premier said it was up to the employer to give workers more time off if they require it.
With files from CTV News Toronto's Queen's Park Bureau Chief Colin D'Mello
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Fluid in eye cells can 'boil' if you watch the eclipse without protection: expert
Millions of people in parts of Eastern and Atlantic Canada will be able to see the rare solar eclipse happening on April 8. But they should only look up if they have proper eye protection, experts say.
He didn't trust police but sought their help anyway. Two days later, he was dead
Jameek Lowery was among more than 330 Black people who died after police stopped them with tactics that aren’t supposed to be deadly, like physical restraint and use of stun guns, The Associated Press found.
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
Being harassed at work? What to consider when deciding what to do next
If you've been the victim of workplace harassment, it can be difficult to feel you're not alone - and even more difficult to know where to go with a complaint.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
Half of Canadians support TikTok ban, with U.S. concerns 'trickling' north: poll
A new poll indicates 51 per cent of Canadians support banning the social media app TikTok, after a U.S. bill aiming to do just that passed in the House of Representatives.
Where is the worst place for allergy sufferers in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
More unauthorized products for skin, sexual enhancement, recalled: Here are the recalls of this week
Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency recalled various items this week, including torches, beef biltong and unauthorized products related to skin care and sexual enhancement.