Late, limited sick days not enough

QUEEN’S PARK — NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said three paid sick days isn’t enough in the midst of a global pandemic.

“In the year it took the government to capitulate on paid sick days, 455,000 people were infected and nearly 8,000 died of COVID-19. This action is coming far too late. Too late to stop COVID-19 from getting out of control. Too late for workers who have already gotten sick,” said Horwath.

“And it’s still too little. COVID-19 takes a couple weeks to get over. Even getting a test and waiting for results can take several days. Three sick days is not enough.

“To all those people who have fought for over a year, thank you. We share your disappointment and we’re going to keep fighting with you.”

The NDP has long been proposing paid sick days, and is fighting for an NDP bill which establishes permanent paid sick days plus 14 government-funded paid sick days during a pandemic or infectious disease emergency.