Ontario’s temporary paid sick days to end

Ontario will soon end its temporary paid sick day program, which provided three sick days to workers during the pandemic, will expire at the end of the month, a spokesperson for Premier Doug Ford said.

“As a time-limited pandemic measure, the Ontario government introduced paid COVID-19 leave, a program designed to support people who needed to take time off work to isolate or get vaccinated,” Caitlin Clark said Wednesday. “Ontario has now achieved one of the highest vaccination rates in the world, and consistent with the sunset date for this program, it will expire effective March 31, 2023.”

Clark said it will not be replaced with another program, but said the Progressive Conservative government will continue moving forward with its plan to provide portable health and dental coverage to workers without paid sick days.

That portable benefits program is intended to cover workers in the gig economy, retail and hospitality jobs who don’t have benefits, and accommodate people who may change careers throughout their lives.

NDP Leader Marit Stiles said her party was pushing for 10 guaranteed paid sick days plus an additional 14 governmentfunded paid sick days during a public health emergency.

Under the program, employers are reimbursed by the government for the paid leave days. Eligible workers can receive up to $200 per day for up to three days for pandemic-related absences like testing, vaccination, isolation or caring for relatives who are ill with COVID-19.

The program has served more than 500,000 people, Ontario’s labour minister said this week.

The government also said Wednesday that it is planning to lift some COVID-19 restrictions in long-term-care homes beginning March 31.

The province said high vaccination rates among nursing home residents and staff have led the chief medical officer of health to begin easing some measures in a phased approach.

Long-term care homes will still be required to monitor residents daily for infection.

Beginning at the end of the month, testing will no longer be required for long-term care staff, caregivers and visitors who do not show symptoms.