TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO:
WHEREAS there is overwhelming evidence to show that paid sick leave significantly reduces the spread of infectious disease, promotes preventive health care and reduces health care system costs; and
WHEREAS 60% of Ontario workers do not have access to paid sick days, and therefore must sacrifice income to stay home if they are sick; and
WHEREAS low-wage and precarious workers who can least afford to miss pay are the most likely to be denied paid sick days; and
WHEREAS employers benefit when sick workers can afford to stay home, limiting the spread of illness to co-workers and customers, and allowing workers to recover faster; and
WHEREAS during an infectious disease emergency, it is unreasonable and dangerous to public health to make workers choose between protecting their communities and providing for their families; and
WHEREAS mandating employers to provide paid sick leave through the Employment Standards Act ensures that workers have seamless, uninterrupted access to their pay; and
WHEREAS the COVID-19 pandemic has left many small businesses hanging by a thread, and transitional financial support will assist these businesses to pay for sick leave for their employees during the pandemic;
THEREFORE, we the undersigned petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to immediately provide workers with 10 annual employer-paid days of personal emergency leave and 14 days of paid leave in the case of an infectious disease emergency, and for the Minister to implement a financial support program for employers to help employers adapt to any increased costs associated with paid personal emergency leave.