Tim Houston (CREDIT: Communications Nova Scotia)
It doesn’t appear paid sick days will be a permanent option for people without coverage anytime soon.
On Monday, the Tim Houston government announced they were reinstating the paid-sick leave program while they work on a long-term solution. Temporary coverage is being brought back as the province deals with a spike in COVID-19 cases.
When first pressed on the issue by NDP leader Gary Burrill during Friday’s question period Tim Houston said, “We are looking at options, we are looking at what’s possible to support Nova Scotians but I don’t want to presuppose what the outcome of that will be.”.
Those comments were made prior to the decision to reinstate the old program, which was announced three days later.
When the extension announcement was made Labour Minister Jill Ballser echoed similar sentiments to the premier, “I am actively engaged in conversations with labour ministers across Canada about a permanent paid sick leave program,” .
While those conversations take place, Ballser says they are also seeking feedback from employees and employers. “It’s important when we engage in these conversations if we decide to move in that direction we have conversations on the local level to meet their needs with a permanent program if that’s the direction we move but we haven’t made a decision on a permanent program at this time,” she said.
Those comments did little to ease the concerns of Burrill who says the government we need a permanent program now. “It’s clear there needs to be a permanent program, as the temporary program they just extended and the existing federal program both end the first week of May,” Burrill said.
The provincial NDP leader says that the provincial government should be aiming to have a permanent program in place by May 8, so as to avoid any gaps in paid-sick leave coverage.
With the PC’s saying any such program is dependent on federal partners, Burrill says the Trudeau-Singh coalition has already expressed their desire to support paid sick leave.
“I know in the agreement between the Jagmeet Singh NDP’s and Trudeau’s Liberal’s one of the parts of that agreement is that we will establish 10 paid sick days for all federally regulated workplaces, which will cover more people, but it will still leave lots uncovered hence the need for a provincial program.”
Burrill went on to say although he is unsure of the federal conservatives’ views on Provincial paid sick-leave programs he expects support from the Liberal and NDP MPs.
As it stands however no solid plans to introduce a permanent program have been announced and Nova Scotians will have to hope the active conversations pan out favorably.
