Announcement on paid sick day ‘enhancements’ coming in near future: House Leader

As Premier Ford isolates due to a possible COVID exposure, the province says they will be announcing 'enhancements' to paid sick leave in the next few days. Cynthia Mulligan has the details, and continued criticism from opposition.

By News staff

Doug Ford’s government will be announcing “additional enhancements” to paid sick days in the “very near future,” Ontario government house leader, Paul Calandra, said at Queen’s Park on Wednesday without providing further details.

When asked by NDP Leader Andrea Horwath if the Ford government would bring paid sick days to Ontario, Calandra responded: “We were … disappointed that the federal budget did not include some of the enhancements that we asked for, that we were assured would be in that budget, and given that those enhancements that we have advocated for (weren’t included) we have been very clear that the government of Ontario would be coming forward with additional enhancements in the very near future.”

Sources tells CityNews an announcement on paid sick days is expected later this week or early next week, but the Ford government won’t be supporting the NDP motion on the matter, with Calandra calling it too “vague.”

Sources also say the Ford government is changing its internal process to avoid rushed decisions that lead to policy reversals.

Premier Ford, who is currently isolating after coming into close contact with a staffer who tested positive for COVID-19, is expected address the public in the near future.

Ford and Solicitor General Sylvia Jones both came under fire for new COVID-19 measures announced last Friday that gave police enhanced powers to stop and question citizens, as well as banning families from using playgrounds.

Both of those measures were reversed a day later after considerable backlash.


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