Ford government must stop shifting blame and start protecting workers with paid sick days

NIAGARA FALLS — Official Opposition NDP Workplace Health and Safety Critic Wayne Gates has released a statement after Ford’s Labour Minister McNaughton again refused to have the province guarantee paid sick days to prevent workers from taking COVID-19 to work:

“The Ford government has put workers in an impossible position – they are being forced to risk going to work when they are sick and infecting others, or miss a paycheque. We are seeing more workplace outbreaks, with more workers losing their lives, and once again the Ford government is pathetically attempting to shift the blame onto the federal government.

Instead of using billions in COVID-19 funding to protect people, including with paid sick days, Ford is sitting on that money. He is still refusing to listen to public health experts, mayors and the Official Opposition NDP who are telling him this will save lives and prevent the spread of this virus. Workers are paying the price for his choices, with a longer, broader lockdown and more agony and tragic loss that could be avoided.

NDP MPP Peggy Sattler has already drafted legislation to provide paid sick days that we are ready to pass immediately. Ford must stop his distraction tactics and point fingers, and call back the Legislature so we can pass this bill and start giving workers the protection they deserve.”