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
RCMP uncovers alleged plot by 2 Montreal men to illegally sell drones, equipment to Libya
The RCMP says it has uncovered a plot by two men in Montreal to sell Chinese drones and military equipment to Libya illegally.
Demonstrators kicked out of Ontario legislature for disruption after failed keffiyeh vote
A group of demonstrators were kicked out of the legislature after a second NDP motion calling for unanimous consent to reverse a ban on the keffiyeh failed to pass.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
Government agrees to US$138.7M settlement over FBI's botching of Larry Nassar assault allegations
The U.S. Justice Department announced a US$138.7 million settlement Tuesday with more than 100 people who accused the FBI of grossly mishandling allegations of sexual assault against Larry Nassar in 2015 and 2016, a critical time gap that allowed the sports doctor to continue to prey on victims before his arrest.
Man wanted in connection with deadly shooting in Toronto tops list of most wanted fugitives in Canada
A 35-year-old man wanted in connection with the murder of Toronto resident 29-year-old Sharmar Powell-Flowers nine months ago has topped the list of the BOLO program’s 25 most wanted fugitives across Canada, police announced Tuesday.
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.
Keeping these exotic pets is 'cruel' and 'dangerous,' Canadian animal advocates say
Canadian pet owners are finding companionship beyond dogs and cats. Tigers, alligators, scorpions and tarantulas are among some of the exotic pets they are keeping in private homes, which pose risks to public safety and animal welfare, advocates say.
Thieves use stolen forklift to rip cash machine out of U.K. bank
Police in the U.K. are searching for a group of suspects seen on video using a forklift to steal a cash machine from a bank.
'There was a lot of black smoke': Crane operator sounds alarm while trapped during highrise fire in Halifax
A tower crane operator alerted emergency crews after noticing a fire on a construction site in Halifax Tuesday morning.