Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Ontario should work directly with employers to bring in a paid sick-leave program.
The prime minister’s remarks came yesterday even as the province made clear it wanted to top up an existing federal benefit to deliver on its promise of sick days for all workers.
Trudeau says Ottawa was in talks with Ontario but suggested the province work with the businesses it regulates to implement its own program, as his government did with federally regulated workplaces.
Critics have slammed Premier Doug Ford’s government for failing to come up with its own plan to implement the long-demanded measure, which experts say would help curb workplace spread of COVID-19.
CUPE Ontario and health-care providers including an emergency room physician say the province is just doubling down on a flawed federal program that is inaccessible.
