Under the federal government’s new $19 billion Safe Restart Agreement, employees who do not have paid sick leave to remain at home when they have COVID-19 or its symptoms will be given temporary income support that will provide each worker with a job-protected leave of absence of ten paid sick days related to COVID-19.
Each province and territory will have to establish the leave for its own jurisdiction by enacting its own regulation or legislation.
Other priorities of the Safe Restart Program investment include:
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testing, contact tracing, and public health data management;
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support for the health care system capacity to respond to a potential future wave of COVID-19, and address needs and gaps in support for people experiencing challenges related to mental health, substance abuse, or homelessness;
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protections and supports to control and prevent infections in seniors and other vulnerable populations, e.g., addressing staffing issues in long-term care, home care, and palliative care facilities and services;
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procurement of personal protective equipment;
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funding to enable municipalities to deliver essential services, e.g., public transit; and
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ensuring the availability of safe child care for parents returning to work.
Federal legislation has not yet been passed to authorize this investment.
