Ontario getting rid of temporary paid sick days, to lift some COVID measures in LTC homes

The Canadian Press has learned that Ontario will not extend its temporary paid sick day program.

Two senior government sources say the COVID-19 sick day program that provided three paid days off to workers during the pandemic will expire at the end of the month.

Under the current guidelines, eligible workers are offered up to $200 a day for up to three days if they need to get tested, vaccinated, receive booster shots, self-isolate, or care for a family member who is ill from COVID-19.

Sources say it will not be replaced with another program, but the government will continue moving forward with its plan to provide portable health and dental coverage to workers without those benefits.

The sources have been granted anonymity because they are not authorized to reveal details of Thursday’s budget, which will mention the end of the sick day program.

RELATED: Ontario proposes changes to long-term care home rules. Here’s what was tabled

NDP Leader Marit Stiles said her party was pushing for 10 guaranteed paid sick days for all Ontarians.

“(Premier Doug) Ford’s Conservative government is no friend to Ontario workers,” she wrote on Twitter. “People should never be forced to go to work sick just to put food on the table.”

The Ford government originally announced the program back in April of 2021. The province partnered with the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board to deliver the program and reimburse its staff. Ontario’s labour minister said this week that the program had served more than 500,000 workers.

“I think it’s a huge mistake not to renew that,” Ontario Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner said on Tuesday.

“We know it’s better for workers to stay home when they’re sick, and it is very difficult for many workers to do that when they’re in the impossible situation of saying, hey do I pay the rent, pay the bills, meet my family obligations or do I go to work sick. We need permanent paid sick days in Ontario.”

COVID-19 measures to ease across Ontario long-term care homes

The provincial government will also lift some COVID-19 restrictions in long-term care homes beginning March 31.

Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore thanked Ontarians for their sacrifices over the past three years.

“Thanks to their continued efforts, Ontario has reached a point where it can begin a safe, cautious and balanced reduction of public health measures in long-term care homes across the province,” he wrote in a statement.

“The health and safety of residents remain paramount, and we will continue to work with the sector to ensure residents and their families receive the level of care they need and deserve in a safe and comfortable environment.”

Beginning at the end of the month, testing will no longer be required for long-term care staff, caregivers and visitors who do not show symptoms.

The province said masking outdoors for residents, caregivers, and visitors will no longer be recommended, but that recommendation will stand for staff who will be close to a resident outside.

Screening residents and temperature checks will also no longer be required by the homes, the province said.

The province said it would also remove the cap on one caregiver at a time during a COVID-19 outbreak. Social activities will also be held without physical distancing.

The province is also encouraging homes that have retained vaccination passport requirements to revisit those policies and consider allowing visitors and staff inside regardless of their vaccination status.

Provincial data shows 5,335 nursing home residents have died from COVID-19 since the pandemic hit Ontario in early 2020. Thirteen long-term care home healthcare workers have also died over that time frame.

With files from Richard Southern and Mike Visser of CityNews