By Thomas I. Likness
EBC Edmonton Bureau

EDMONTON (Eagle News) — Canadian workers are being promised 10 days of paid sick leave a year by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

“We know that you deserve to be treated fairly on the job,” Trudeau said Monday. “Nobody should have to choose between taking a day off work due to illness or being able to pay their bills, just like nobody should have to choose between staying home with COVID-19 symptoms or being able to afford rent or groceries.”

Discussions are continuing with the provinces to develop a system of paid leave for workers who are ill as the country enters the recovery phase of the pandemic.

Trudeau added the government will consider other measures for the longer term to support workers with sick leave.

He said the issue was raised a few weeks ago by British Columbia Premier John Horgan who worried about the flu season in the fall.

“When the fall comes and flu season starts up, we don’t want people who develop a sniffle to suddenly worry that they really shouldn’t go into work but they can’t afford not to go into work and therefore the risk of contributing to a second wave significantly could be a real problem,” said Trudeau. “That’s why a number of premiers have agreed that we do need to look at ways of encouraging people who begin to exhibits symptoms of COVID-19 to be able to stay home for a day or two.”

Trudeau admits the mechanisms to set up the system are challenging. No details have been worked out.

(Eagle News Service)