Last week, my colleague the MPP for Don Valley East, put forward Bill 247 Paid Personal Emergency Leave Now Act.This bill would have given Ontarians access to 10 paid sick days, a lifesaving initiative that has long been promoted as a crucial public health measure. 

Unfortunately, for too many in Ontario, missing a day of work with symptoms or to get a test means they can’t put food on the table or pay their rent.  This has lead to enormous spread of the virus and has led the COVID-19 Science Advisory Table to also recommend the government implement paid sick days in order to curb the spread of the virus.

The Government voted against Bill 247.

Instead, the Government will be introducing a Bill that if passed, will require employers to pay employees up to $200 a day for up to three days. The three days would not need to be taken consecutively. You can read about Government’s proposal here.

I’ve included below a letter I wrote to the Premier on the issue in January.