Province scrambling to find a way to get money into the hands of employees who have to take time off from work due to Covid19

News 100 redBy Staff

April 28th, 2021

BURLINGTON, ON

 

The Ontario government continues to work with the federal government to further support vulnerable workers by doubling payments made through the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) program, the province will introduce legislation that, if passed, will offer up to three paid sick days per employee.

Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development, will introduce legislation on Thursday that would, if passed, require employers to provide employees with up to $200 of pay for up to three days if they are missing work because of COVID-19. This program will be retroactive to April 19, 2021 and effective until September 25, 2021, the date the CRSB will expire.

Queen's Park winter

Let’s see what happens at Queen’s Park on Thursday.

By providing time-limited access to three paid leave days, the province is ensuring employees can pay their bills as they help stop the spread of the virus, including by getting tested, waiting for their results in isolation or going to get their vaccine. The province will partner with the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board to deliver the program and reimburse employers up to $200 per day for each employee.

“Our government has long advocated for the federal government to enhance the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit program to better protect the people of Ontario, especially our tireless essential workers,” said Minister McNaughton. “It is a tremendously positive step that the federal government has signaled their willingness to continue discussions on the CRSB. Now we can fix the outstanding gap in the federal program so workers can get immediate support and can stay home when needed.”

The province has also offered to provide funding to the federal government to double CRSB payments to Ontario residents, adding an additional $500 per week to eligible individuals for a total of $1,000 per week. Combined with the province’s proposed three days of paid COVID-19 leave, doubling the CRSB would provide Ontario workers with access to the most generous pandemic paid leave in the country.

If an eligible worker learns that they must isolate for longer than 50 per cent of the time they would have otherwise worked for the week, whether because of a positive COVID-19 test or risk of exposure, they may apply for the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit if they haven’t taken a paid leave day under this proposal.

Let’s see what happens at Queen’s Park on Thursday.

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2 comments to Province scrambling to find a way to get money into the hands of employees who have to take time off from work due to Covid19

  • Sharon

    $200.00 what is that supposed to pay for? 3 days how generous!!!

    • Phillip Wooster

      My understanding was that the 3 days sick leave was to act as a bridge to transition to the federal sickness benefit—a benefit that the federal government pegged at less than minimum wage, refused to improve in the budget (somewhat understandable given the budget was an election document), and is reluctant to join with the Ontario government to improve.