ONTARIO’S PAID SICK DAY PROGRAM IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

For immediate release 

April 28, 2021 

Statement 

 

ONTARIO’S PAID SICK DAY PROGRAM IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION 

New measures in Ontario address some – but not all – flaws in federal program 

 

(Ottawa – April 28, 2021) – Today, Sueling Ching, President and CEO of the Ottawa Board of Trade and Rocco Rossi, President and CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, released the following joint statement in reaction to the Government of Ontario’s Paid Sick Day Program Proposal announced today:  

“Today’s announcement by the Government of Ontario is a step in the right direction to protect essential workers. Ontario is the only province that has committed to a paid sick day program during the pandemic. The proposed provincial top up to the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit is also encouraging but is contingent on federal government participation and does not address other shortcomings of the federal program, such as processing delays. We would like to see all levels of governments open to further adjustments of their programs - as they have been with other programs rolled out in the pandemic – to ensure programs meets the needs of workers and the market in Ottawa. 

“Our position continues to be that business, particularly small businesses, simply cannot afford the additional financial responsibility to fund sick leave at this time, which is why the Ottawa Board of Trade and the Ontario Chamber of Commerce support the notion of a temporary paid sick program that is paid for by government for the duration of the pandemic. Any paid sick day program must be fully and immediately accessible to workers who need it with a quick and seamless reimbursement for employers. When workers protect themselves, they protect their colleagues, their employers, and their communities.” 

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About the Ottawa Board of Trade 

The Ottawa Board of Trade is the voice for business in the Ottawa region, acting as an independent, non-partisan association representing the interests of all businesses at every level of government to ensure a competitive business climate, economic growth and community prosperity 

About the Ontario Chamber of Commerce 

For more than a century, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) has been the independent, non-partisan, indispensable partner of Ontario business. The OCC’s mission is to support economic growth in Ontario by defending business priorities at Queen’s Park on behalf of its network’s diverse 60,000 members. 

For media inquiries please contact: 

Sueling Ching, President & CEO, Ottawa Board of Trade  

Sueling.ching@ottawabot.ca | 613-349-5757