“No sick notes needed!” Ontario introduces the COVID-19 Worker Income Protection Benefit Program

BY PAUL JUNOR

There has been much persistent and regular call upon the provincial government to mandate paid sick leave.

It has been reported that many Canadian employers have decided to provide paid sick leave when their workers get sick, because currently there is not one offered by the provincial government.

The report states that paid sick leave benefits, which allow workers to call in sick without fear of losing a day’s pay, is becoming a political issue across the country, especially in Ontario.

The call for permanent sick leave being made by worker and patient advocates from many provinces, because the federal COVID-19 sick leave benefit does not extend to many workers who are: migrants, in precarious employment, and in jobs that are low-paying.

Katy Ingraham, (Organizer with the Canadian Restaurant Workers Coalition) during an interview states, “The simple solution is for provinces to mandate paid sick days. If this was available, then they would not worry about when they’re going to see that money, or how they’re going to pay for: groceries, rent, heat, water, the necessities of life.”

In a report released by the city of Toronto titled, “Response to COVID-19 – January 2021 Update” states, “It has become increasingly evident that paid sick leave provisions are essential to protect the health of individual workers, their workplaces and the broader community.”

The report indicates that only 42% of employed Canadians have access to paid sick leave, and for low-wage workers, only 10% can get it. It explains further that Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit, which provides $500 per week and has been in place since September 2020, “Falls short of providing workers with mandated and immediately accessible paid sick days. It pays less than a full-time minimum wage job in most provinces.”

It is unfortunate that the PC-led provincial government took away two paid sick days and replaced it with three unpaid days for personal illness. Even more troubling, in 2020 it was extended to an unspecified time period for a worker to self-isolate without pay. This has provoked much outcry and opposition.

Premier Ford who was in self-isolation acknowledges that the federal program (pays $450 per week for at most four weeks) is not enough. He states, “We’re working on our own situation to fill those gaps. I assure you. It is not lost on me that unlike many people, I’m able to isolate and continue working. For too many people right now, that’s not the case.”

Ontario’s own science advisory table, local public health units, municipal politicians, opposition parties, medical associations and labour groups have made the call for paid sick leave. On Monday, April 26^th, a motion was defeated in the Ontario legislature that sought to give ten paid days for Ontario workers, by a 55-20 vote. The motion was put forward by Liberal MPP Michael Coteau who the Toronto Star reported stated it was, “The 21^st time, either through motions or other previous bills, that the Conservative party and the premier have voted against paid sick days.”

However. Premier Ford has relented, and introduced legislation at the end of April to provide up to three paid sick days that will be part of a temporary program. Employers will be remunerated up to $200 per day for any workers that take time off due to COVID-19. It will be run by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) and will be called the Ontario CPVID-19 Worker Income Protection Benefit Program. No sick notes are needed and payments will be retroactive to April 19^th.