Thursday, March 28, 2024
ADVT 
National

Province giving all workers up to 3 paid days of sick leave

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 11 May, 2021 10:37 AM
  • Province giving all workers up to 3 paid days of sick leave

British Columbia will give all workers up to three days of paid sick leave to support those affected by COVID-19.

Labour Minister Harry Bains introduced the legislation today, saying it would be effective until Dec. 31.

He says the provincial government will be "stepping up in a major way" to support businesses with the cost.

Employers will be required to pay workers their full wages and those without an existing sick-leave program will be reimbursed by the government $200 per day for each worker.

WorkSafeBC, the provincial injury prevention and safety agency, will begin administering the program next month and employers will be required to cover the difference for those employees who earn more than $200 per day.

Bains also says a new permanent entitlement to paid personal injury and illness leave would take effect in January, although the number of entitlement days would be determined through consultation in the coming months.

"Having paid sick leave is good for businesses, good for workers, good for our communities and will help our economy recover faster," Bains said in the legislature on Tuesday.

The government says about half of B.C. employees do not currently have access to paid sick leave.

British Columbia's proposed legislation closely matches the program introduced in Ontario, which has come under heavy criticism for falling short of what's needed to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Premier John Horgan said last month the province was considering its own sick-leave program after the federal government failed to bring in a national plan that would fill in the gaps of the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit.

MORE National ARTICLES

Man shot dead at Vancouver International Airport identified as gang member Karman Singh Grewal

Man shot dead at Vancouver International Airport identified as gang member Karman Singh Grewal
A short time later, fire crews in Surrey were called to attend a vehicle fire in a back alley, about 28 kilometres from the airport. Several targeted shootings have ended with similar vehicle fires.

Man shot dead at Vancouver International Airport identified as gang member Karman Singh Grewal

One man dead in the shooting at Vancouver International Airport: IHIT

One man dead in the shooting at Vancouver International Airport: IHIT
No word on number of suspects. No arrests have been made. A burned out vehicle was found in Surrey. Its too early to say if this shooting is linked to the ongoing gang conflict in the lower mainland.     

One man dead in the shooting at Vancouver International Airport: IHIT

All major routes in and out of Richmond to get to Vancouver International Airport shut down due to a shooting at the airport

All major routes in and out of Richmond to get to Vancouver International Airport shut down due to a shooting at the airport
 Queensborough bridge and Oak St bridge have just re-opened. The Knight Street Bridge is under lock down. Heavy police presence in the area. 

All major routes in and out of Richmond to get to Vancouver International Airport shut down due to a shooting at the airport

B.C. doctors defend approach to COVID-19 data

B.C. doctors defend approach to COVID-19 data
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and her deputy, Dr. Réka Gustafson, said Friday they wouldn't characterize data first released to the Vancouver Sun by someone at the B.C. Centre for Disease Control as "leaked" because it would have been available in some form later anyway.

B.C. doctors defend approach to COVID-19 data

Provinces cracking down amid COVID-19 surge

Provinces cracking down amid COVID-19 surge
Manitoba was set to tighten restrictions later Friday amid an "alarming" rise in cases, said Dr. Jazz Atwal, the province's deputy chief public health officer.

Provinces cracking down amid COVID-19 surge

7 COVID19 deaths for Friday

7 COVID19 deaths for Friday
There are 6,757 active cases of COVID-19 in the province. A further 125,799 people who tested positive have recovered.

7 COVID19 deaths for Friday