B.C. prepared to go it alone in launching sick-pay program
VICTORIA B.C. is prepared to launch its own sick-pay program for workers if Ottawa fails to show leadership on the important measure, says Premier John Horgan.
Horgan said he’ll push the issue with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday, like he also did last week during a scheduled weekly conference call with other provincial and territorial leaders.
“I still believe that this should be a national program with national consequences, but we’re prepared to go it alone if need be,” said Horgan. “I do have allies in the federal government who appreciate the initiative that I’ve been promoting.”
B.C. has been strongly lobbying the federal government to create a national sick-pay program so workers with any type of flu-like symptoms can take sick leave as recommended by public health officials without worrying about lost wages.
Public health officials have said it’s key for people to stay home when sick in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 as the economy slowly reopens, but many workers don’t have paid sick days and so must balance the financial hardships with public safety.
It’s also not fair for business owners, many of whom are suffering financially from the pandemic, to have to shoulder all the costs of paid sick days, said Horgan.
Horgan has called on Ottawa to fund the sick days using the EI program, because the pandemic is a national health emergency. The province’s major business leaders have backed Horgan’s idea in a letter to Trudeau.
B.C. is willing to pay a share of a national program, Horgan has said. If the province had to fund a sick-pay program on its own, the costs would likely be higher.
“We do have alternative plans in place, but I still firmly believe that the federal government needs to be part of this,” said Horgan.
B.C. is on track to post a deficit this fiscal year of at least $5 billion. The B.C. Business Council has estimated it could be as high as $10 billion.
Despite the deep deficit, Horgan brushed aside calls Wednesday that he should fast-track B.C.’s 10-year plan to provide $10-a-day child care.
“I believe accelerating the plan we have in place is not likely in the short term,” he said. The NDP’s plans to achieve $10-a-day child care require a $200-million funding boost in 2022, which wasn’t in the February budget.
MLAs will have a chance to debate B.C.’s $5-billion COVID -19 recovery spending package, as well as the budget tabled before the health crisis, when the legislature resumes mid-June, Horgan announced Wednesday. The House will reconvene either June 15 or 22, he said.
Not all MLAs will be physically present during the summer session, due to health and social distancing rules, but the legislature plans to use technology to have some politicians attend proceedings and vote virtually.