Halton Hills mayor moves motion advocating improvements to sick pay policies

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Published February 2, 2021 at 3:47 pm

While the COVID-19 pandemic has indicated the public to stay home if not well, under current legislation, the federal government and the Province’s Employment Standards Act, 2000 does not provide sufficient sick leave provisions for workers which could discourage them from staying home.

At a recent Town Council meeting, Halton Hills Mayor Rick Bonnette moved a motion advocating that the Government of Ontario and the Government of Canada “provide longer, better-funded sick leave to help address the ongoing spread of COVID-19.”

“We want people to do the right thing and stay home,” said Mayor Rick Bonnette. “However, we can’t ignore the reality that there is a disproportionate number of people such as women, low-wage earners, racialized communities and precarious workers in jobs that do not offer a paid sick leave. This means, if they don’t work, they aren’t generating an income.”

The motion acknowledges that people without access to paid sick days face hardships when it comes to COVID-19 protocols.

In particular, they may face barriers specifically, “due to fear of income loss and financial hardship.”

The motion will be sent to the Prime Minister, Premier Ford, the Federal and Provincial Ministers of Health as well as local Federal and Provincial Members of Parliament and all the area municipalities.

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