This daily update was delayed to include the announcement below.

Ontario will give workers 3 paid sick days and reimburse businesses for costs

At a televised address this afternoon, the Honourable Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development, and the Honourable Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance, announced the COVID-19 Putting Workers First Act which would grant all workers three paid sick days to self-isolate during the pandemic. The province will reimburse employers with a payment of up to $200 a day for a maximum of three days. Eligible employers would need to make their application for reimbursement within 120 days of the paid leave. 

The paid sick days can be claimed for:

• going for a COVID-19 test
• staying home awaiting the results of a COVID-19 test
• being sick with COVID-19
  
• going to get vaccinated
• experiencing a side effect from a COVID-19covid 19 vaccination
• having been advised to self-isolate due to COVID-19 by an employer, medical practitioner or other authority
• taking care of a dependent who is:
  • sick with COVID-19 or has symptoms of COVID-19
    
  • self-isolating due to COVID-19

Claiming employees must be:

• covered by the Employment Standards Act (ESA) (independent contractors or federally regulated employees would not qualify for these days. Learn more about who is an employee under the ESA.)
• not already receiving paid sick time through their employer

An employee may be required to provide evidence reasonable in the circumstances for entitlement to the leave. Employers cannot require an employee to provide a certificate from a doctor or nurse as evidence.

Employers should note that this legislation has not yet passed, although it will be retroactive to April 19 and will end on Sept. 25. The program will be administered through the Workplace Insurance and Safety Board.

More details can be found at ontario.ca/covidworkerbenefit.

Ontario to allow patient transfers without patient consent to preserve hospital capacity

The province is amending regulations under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (EMCPA) to provide hospitals with the flexibility to transfer patients when their doctors have determined that they no longer require hospital care to long-term care or retirement homes without obtaining the consent of the patient or, where the patient is incapable, their substitute decision maker. The amended order can only be used during major surge events where the demand for critical care threatens to overwhelm a hospital and compromise care.

Based on the latest modelling data, COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and ICU occupancy are continuing to increase rapidly and are now at their highest levels since the start of the pandemic in March 2020. The Science Advisory Table projects that the number of COVID-19 patients in ICU will reach 1,100 and around 1,200 acute care COVID admissions by May.

As of April 22, there are 4,288 patients in hospitals who physicians have determined no longer require acute hospital care, of which 1,854 are waiting for a long-term care home (LTCH) bed. As of April 14, there are 5,401 LTCH vacant beds available for new residents.

Click here to read more.

GNCC offers statement on Day of Mourning

Today, Canada observes a national day of mourning for workers who have died, been injured, or become ill from their work. This year, we must also remember those Canadians who have become ill or died from COVID-19, especially the healthcare and essential workers we have depended upon to carry us through this crisis. Every workplace death, injury, or illness is a tragedy, even – perhaps especially – when it is one of many.

Retail sales climb 4.8% in February

Sales up in 9 of 11 subsectors

Retail sales were up 4.8% to $55.1 billion in February, according to a new report from Statistics Canada. Sales increased in 9 of 11 subsectors, led by higher sales at motor-vehicle and parts dealers and gasoline stations. Core retail sales—which exclude gasoline stations and motor-vehicle and parts dealers—rose for the first time in three months, increasing 3.8% in February on higher sales at general merchandise stores and at clothing and clothing accessories stores.

Based on respondent feedback, approximately 12% of retailers were closed during February. Sales at motor-vehicle and parts dealers increased for the second consecutive month, rising 5.0% in February. The increase was mostly because of higher sales at new car dealers (+5.6%) and automotive parts, accessories and tire stores (+9.2%). After two consecutive months of declines, core retail sales also increased 3.8% in February, led by higher sales at general merchandise stores (+6.1%).

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