Ontario’s Premier is dismissing criticism after defeating a bill to guarantee paid sick days in the province.
For what Doug Ford calls the “100th time,” he maintains the province shouldn’t be asked to provide paid sick leave when a federal program already exists.
“The taxpayers out there, I ask you this question: Would you want the federal and provincial governments to double-dip into your pockets when there’s a program already?”
He says he began pushing the federal government to expand the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) back in September.
The CRSB pays workers who are unable to work because they are sick or need to self-isolate due to COVID-19, or have an underlying health condition that puts them at greater risk of getting COVID-19.
The NDP have criticized Ford for not providing paid sick leave at the provincial level, and put forward the Stay Home If You Are Sick Act.
He also defended the defeat of another NDP bill on Monday, a $4-per-hour pay raise for Personal Support Workers. Ford says his government already gave PSWs a $3 pay raise after taking office in 2018.
