N.S. NDP promise to add 10 paid sick days to provincial Labour Standards Code
Nova Scotians will be given 10 paid sick days under an NDP government, says party Leader Gary Burrill ahead of the provincial election.
Burrill announced the proposed legislation on Saturday at the midpoint of the campaign for the province's 41st election, to be held Aug. 17.
The NDP plans on legislating the sick leave days as a part of the provincial Labour Standards Code in short order if they come into power, Burrill said.
The NDP's sick leave program won't require employees to have a doctor's note, he said, to avoid overworking the province's physicians with requests.
He also said studies have shown significant spread of the COVID-19 virus within workplace settings over the past year of the pandemic.
The province's sick leave program, which began on May 10 and expires Saturday, allowed Nova Scotians to qualify for up to four paid sick days.
During the program, businesses were tasked with applying for reimbursements for the employee's pay within 90 days of the leave.
The party leader said the legislation would help Nova Scotia's workers avoid "having to go to work not feeling 100 per cent knowing the risks that that involves, or (staying) home and know that you're going to be missing (pay)."
That same decision was faced by one early childhood educator, Leanne Partridge, during the course of the pandemic.
Partridge said Saturday she previously took two days off work to get tested for COVID-19 but with the end of the program, she's concerned about how she'll be able to take days off for her health in the future.
"Knowing that now I'm either going to have to use vacation days to cover sick days or just take the hit obviously isn't a great feeling," Partridge said.
"It's hard because I would never want to say I go into work sick, but sometimes it's a big decision to have to make."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 31, 2021.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.