GTHA mayors and chairs renew calls for federal and provincial action on sick pay

Municipal leaders in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area continue to push the federal and provincial governments to improve sick pay benefits as a way to combat COVID-19.

The mayors and chairs of the 11 largest municipal governments in the GTHA held their regular meeting on Monday — as the country marked the one-year anniversary of its first known case of COVID-19.

They say COVID-19 outbreaks continue in essential workplaces in the GTHA and without improved sick pay, people will continue going into work sick.

The federal government introduced the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit to support people missing work over a COVID-19 diagnosis or exposure.

The benefit provides $500 a week and workers are only eligible if they miss 50 per cent of the work week.

The provincial government has said it is not looking to implement its own sick leave policy.

The mayors want an enhanced benefit which comes closer to replacing income, a simpler application process and a benefit that’s immediately available.

“As the Mayors and Chairs have pointed out many times, failure to address this adequately is putting health at risk and will ultimately lengthen the time needed for other public health measures,” said a news release.