Horwath plans to put paid sick days to a vote, Ford government tries to prevent vote

QUEEN’S PARK — For months Doug Ford and his PC MPPs have been refusing the paid sick days plan called for by countless experts and workers alongside Andrea Horwath and the Ontario NDP. But with indications growing that the government won’t be able to hold out much longer, Horwath scheduled the Opposition Day motion Wednesday afternoon to be a debate on a safety plan for essential workplaces that includes paid sick days.
But as of Wednesday morning, the Ford government is throwing up as many blockades as possible to prevent the regularly-scheduled Opposition Day Motion from going ahead. To block the debate and vote on paid sick days, the government has scheduled surprise votes on a raft of non-pandemic motions and bills.

“Today and every day more workers will face the choice between taking an unpaid sick day and being unable to put food on the table — or going to work sick with a potential case of COVID-19. Paid sick days cannot wait a second longer,” said Horwath.
“Without paid sick days, workers and their loved ones will keep pouring into Ontario’s hospitals. It is cruel and heartless to keep denying workers protections when we know it will condemn more people to get sick, and more people to die.”
On Tuesday, the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table issued a brief reiterating what Ontario must do now to end the COVID-19 nightmare Ford pushed the province into. The Science Table is calling for paid sick days, paid time off to get vaccinated, for the province to vaccinate vulnerable groups including essential workers faster, and for the province to temporarily close non-essential workplaces.
“Mr. Ford walked us into this crisis, and the same experts who warned him this is where Ontario would end up have shown us the path out — he just needs to take it.”
The NDP is also calling for paid time off for workers to get a vaccine, for non-essential workplaces to be closed temporarily, and for all affected businesses and workers to be provided with direct financial support.