Lisa Johnson
EDMONTON JOURNAL
4/26/2021
“There’s a good reason to do it, and it’s long overdue,” said Notley, calling on the government to work again with the opposition as it did in passing legislation last week to guarantee three hours of paid sick leave to get workers vaccinated.
Notley also encouraged the government to consult with employers to reach a cost sharing agreement that recognizes that some large employers have increased their profits throughout the pandemic, while many small businesses struggle to survive.
Joseph Dow, press secretary to Labour Minister Jason Copping, said in a statement the Alberta government is concerned by the third-wave surge in cases across the province, but did not say whether Copping is considering any measure to fill in the gaps of the federal program.
Dow encouraged residents to take advantage of existing COVID-19 supports including those of the federal government, and the province’s isolation hotel program that offers up to $625 in financial support .
The NDP’s call comes as paid sick leave makes headlines across the country, especially in Ontario. Premier Doug Ford refused to implement paid sick leave until the public outcry prompted a pledge last week that a provincial program would fill in the gaps left by the federal sick pay program.
On Monday, Ford’s government shut down a bill proposed by a Liberal MPP that would guarantee 10 paid sick days.
As of Sunday , Alberta’s per capita rate of active COVID-19 cases, at 455 per 100,000, far exceeds Ontario’s, which is at 279 per 100,000 people. Ontario’s COVID-19 Science Advisory Table has called for paid sick leave to curb workplace spread.
The federal program offers $450 after taxes per week for up to a maximum of four weeks if they tested positive or are self-isolating due to COVID-19.
Notley pointed out that is less than a full-time minimum wage paycheque in Alberta, and it can take weeks to get the cash to eligible workers.
“Many families simply cannot afford to wait weeks without an income while they try to navigate the federal government’s application process,” said Notley.
Notley said the wages would be far less than the cost of occupied ICU beds and continued damage to the economy.
“We must weigh the cost of this program against the cost of thousands more Albertans falling sick, hundreds more in the hospital and ICU and the broader economic damage that occurs as a result of a longer third wave,” said Notley.
Beginning March last year, all Albertan employees who are in quarantine due to COVID-19 are eligible for 14 days of unpaid, job-protected leave.
cbc.ca
Mandating paid sick days is 'not the expectation, it's the ask," says federal labour minister
Duration: 01:52
Duration: 05:40
© Provided by Edmonton Journal On Monday April 26, 2021 in Edmonton Alberta NDP Leader Rachel Notley, right, and NDP labour critic Christina Gray laid out a proposal for paid sick leave to slow the spread of the COVID pandemic, protect Alberta workers, and speed up Alberta's economic recovery.
The Opposition NDP is calling for the Alberta government to provide 10 days of paid leave for isolating workers to curb workplace spread of COVID-19.
Leader Rachel Notley said Monday the Alberta government should cover employers sending the wage support directly to workers as part of their paycheques, leaving the details of how the province might be reimbursed through the federal government’s recovery sickness benefit until later.
Notley said with variants of concern spreading faster in the workplace, the support would help get transmission rates down and bring the pandemic and public health restrictions to an end faster.
“What we need to do is bring (transmission) down and we can’t do that if people go to work with symptoms, or if they go to work while they’re waiting five days to get a test, or if they go to work because they can’t afford to stay home and not get paid while isolating,” said Notley.
The Opposition NDP is calling for the Alberta government to provide 10 days of paid leave for isolating workers to curb workplace spread of COVID-19.
Leader Rachel Notley said Monday the Alberta government should cover employers sending the wage support directly to workers as part of their paycheques, leaving the details of how the province might be reimbursed through the federal government’s recovery sickness benefit until later.
Notley said with variants of concern spreading faster in the workplace, the support would help get transmission rates down and bring the pandemic and public health restrictions to an end faster.
“What we need to do is bring (transmission) down and we can’t do that if people go to work with symptoms, or if they go to work while they’re waiting five days to get a test, or if they go to work because they can’t afford to stay home and not get paid while isolating,” said Notley.
“There’s a good reason to do it, and it’s long overdue,” said Notley, calling on the government to work again with the opposition as it did in passing legislation last week to guarantee three hours of paid sick leave to get workers vaccinated.
Notley also encouraged the government to consult with employers to reach a cost sharing agreement that recognizes that some large employers have increased their profits throughout the pandemic, while many small businesses struggle to survive.
Joseph Dow, press secretary to Labour Minister Jason Copping, said in a statement the Alberta government is concerned by the third-wave surge in cases across the province, but did not say whether Copping is considering any measure to fill in the gaps of the federal program.
Dow encouraged residents to take advantage of existing COVID-19 supports including those of the federal government, and the province’s isolation hotel program that offers up to $625 in financial support .
The NDP’s call comes as paid sick leave makes headlines across the country, especially in Ontario. Premier Doug Ford refused to implement paid sick leave until the public outcry prompted a pledge last week that a provincial program would fill in the gaps left by the federal sick pay program.
On Monday, Ford’s government shut down a bill proposed by a Liberal MPP that would guarantee 10 paid sick days.
As of Sunday , Alberta’s per capita rate of active COVID-19 cases, at 455 per 100,000, far exceeds Ontario’s, which is at 279 per 100,000 people. Ontario’s COVID-19 Science Advisory Table has called for paid sick leave to curb workplace spread.
The federal program offers $450 after taxes per week for up to a maximum of four weeks if they tested positive or are self-isolating due to COVID-19.
Notley pointed out that is less than a full-time minimum wage paycheque in Alberta, and it can take weeks to get the cash to eligible workers.
“Many families simply cannot afford to wait weeks without an income while they try to navigate the federal government’s application process,” said Notley.
Notley said the wages would be far less than the cost of occupied ICU beds and continued damage to the economy.
“We must weigh the cost of this program against the cost of thousands more Albertans falling sick, hundreds more in the hospital and ICU and the broader economic damage that occurs as a result of a longer third wave,” said Notley.
Beginning March last year, all Albertan employees who are in quarantine due to COVID-19 are eligible for 14 days of unpaid, job-protected leave.
cbc.caMandating paid sick days is 'not the expectation, it's the ask," says federal labour minister
Duration: 01:52
Federal Minister of Labour Filomena Tassi tells Vassy Kapelos on Power & Politics that her government is only asking provinces to mandate paid sick days.
Paid sick days would be 'game changer': grocery store worker
Duration: 05:40
Toronto Grocery store worker Rechev Browne says many of his colleagues who have been working throughout the pandemic can't afford to stay home, even when they feel sick.
Health minister announces details of COVID-19 vaccination rollouts at meat-packing facilities in Alberta
Duration: 01:17
Alberta Health Minister Tyler Shandro offers details of the province's rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine to meat-packing plants.
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