In Conversation: Paid Sick Days with Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives

This Monday, a motion to mandate paid sick days was voted down at Queens Park.

It’s been an issue for years, one that has an outsized impact on low-income workers and marginalized communities in Canada. But during a global pandemic — when all levels of government are telling people to stay home — it’s a pressing issue.

And Barrie’s Mayor and local health authorities publicly support the policy. 

“What there is, is the Canada Relief Benefit, which allows people to apply for money and get it afterward,” Mayor Jeff Lehman told Barrie 360 (a Barrie based online media organization) in February.  “The problem with that, of course, is you have to try and make it through the time until you get your CRB, and it doesn’t necessarily replace all the money you would have made working.”

As chair of the Ontario Big City Mayors (OBCM) Lehman was part of passing a motion within the group to call on the provincial government to institute the policy. 

And in Barrie, a city with multiple COVID-19 outbreaks throughout the past year and a high volume of workers in the service industry, paid sick days have been top of mind for many. 

"60% of Ontario workers don’t have paid sick days," Pekka Reinio stated through a Facebook post on February 8. "Most of them work in jobs considered essential. We need them to stay home when sick or when someone on their family is unwell." 

Reinio's perspective is reflected in the voices of many Barrie residents: a day of action in July saw many in downtown Barrie gathering to show support for the legislation. 

During February 1st's vote, both MPPS for Barrie, Andrea Khanjin and Doug Downey, voted against the proposed paid sick days policy. 

Barrie Community Media has not been able to reach either MPP for comment at this time.