NDP Leader Andrea Horwath puts worker protection motion on the agenda

“Every workplace illness, injury and death is preventable. We stand in solidarity with workers across Ontario in marking an especially painful National Day of Mourning for workers killed, injured and made sick at work,” said Horwath. “Nearly 8,000 Ontarians have lost their lives to COVID-19. We are filled with sorrow for those who have been infected at work. We mourn the loss of workers who have died from this brutal virus. And we renew our pledge to fight for every worker in Ontario — for the protection they need to stay safe until we have conquered COVID-19.”

The NDP’s motion calls on the government to protect essential workers by legislating paid sick days, ensuring access to high quality PPE, developing an effective essential worker vaccination strategy with paid time off for vaccination and extending full WSIB protections to all Ontario workers.

Wednesday’s vote will be the 26th on paid sick days, 20 of which have been on NDP motions or bills.

“On the National Day of Mourning we mourn and remember those who have died, and we fight for the living,” said Horwath.

Background

On Wednesday, Andrea Horwath will table the following motion for debate and adoption:

Whereas April 28 is the National Day of Mourning honouring the lives of workers who have been killed, injured or suffered illnesses on or because of their jobs, and the families and communities impacted by these tragedies; and

Whereas COVID 19 has revealed the inequities faced by many workers, particularly racialized and low waged workers, in Ontario, and the risks they face simply doing their jobs; and

Whereas workplace transmission has accounted for two-thirds of community outbreaks in some municipalities, leaving workers with the added stress of potentially exposing their loved ones to infection just by going to work; and

Whereas the Ford government has repeatedly refused to take action to protect Ontario’s workers and ignores the advice of its own experts calling for paid sick days, paid time off for vaccinations, and the closure of non-essential workplaces while offering supports for the workers and businesses affected; and

Whereas many of Ontario’s essential workers still have to fight for adequate personal protective equipment (PPE), and the Ford government forces workers in jobs with high risk of COVID exposure to prove they contracted the disease on the job in order to receive WSIB supports; and

Whereas the Ford government still has yet to provide a clear strategy to ensure vaccination of Ontario’s essential workers despite having more than a year to develop a plan;

Therefore, the Legislative Assembly calls on the Ford government to better protect Ontario’s essential workers by legislating paid sick days, ensuring access to high quality PPE, developing an effective essential worker vaccination strategy with paid time off for vaccination and extending full WSIB protections to all Ontario workers.