QUEEN’S PARK — In question period, MPP Peggy Sattler urged the government to pass her private member's bill, the Stay Home If You Are Sick Act, after the announcement of the extended three paid sick days program.
"This government did not extend the program to cover workers who already used those three COVID-related paid sick days," Sattler pointed out. "If this government was serious about preventing the spread of COVID-19 and protecting the health of Ontarians, they would pass my private member’s bill the Stay Home If You Are Sick Act, which would give workers 10 permanent paid sick days, plus 14, which is what they need in a pandemic. Workers need to be able to stay home without any loss of pay if they have COVID or any other illness, if they have a sick child, or if they need to participate in preventive medical screening tests so they can avoid going to crowded ERs."
As Ontarians brace for the inevitable surge in COVID-19 cases this fall, Sattler highlights the difficult situation that many workers who test positive for COVID-19 will have to face: "Should I self-isolate, without pay, at home and risk not being able to pay the rent, or should I go to work sick and risk spreading COVID in the workplace?"