TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO:
WHEREAS there is overwhelming evidence to show that paid sick days significantly reduce the spread of infectious disease, promote preventative health care and reduce health care system costs; and
WHEREAS 60% of Ontario workers do not have access to paid sick days, and cannot afford to lose their pay if they are sick; and
WHEREAS low-wage and precarious workers are the most likely to be denied paid sick days; and
WHEREAS enabling workers to stay home when they are sick without losing pay helps limit the spread of illness in the workplace and allows sick workers to recover faster; and
WHEREAS during an infectious disease emergency, it is unreasonable and dangerous to public health to make workers choose between protecting their communities and providing for their families; and
WHEREAS legislating paid sick days through the Employment Standards Act, with transitional financial support for struggling small businesses, will ensure that workers have seamless, uninterrupted access to their pay;
THEREFORE, we the undersigned petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to immediately pass Bill 4, the Stay Home If You Are Sick Act, to provide Ontario workers with 10 annual employer-paid days of personal emergency leave and 14 days of paid leave in the case of an infectious disease emergency.
