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May 25th, 2020

Singh Secures Paid Sick Leave for All Workers in Canada

OTTAWA – As more and more businesses are being asked to reopen, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh secured two weeks of paid sick leave for every worker in Canada by pushing the federal government to act.

"Every worker should have access to paid sick leave. Workers need to know they have the ability to choose to stay home with pay if they are sick," said Singh. "No one should be forced to make the impossible choice between going to work sick or not being able to pay their bills. Workers want to go back to work – we need to make sure they can go back to work safely."

For the last few weeks, Singh and New Democrat MPs have been calling for the federal government to make sure all workers have access to two weeks of paid sick leave so they can take the time to heal and stop the spread of any virus or sickness.
Singh made his support for how the House of Commons resumes dependent on introducing two weeks of paid sick leave for all Canadians.
"We have been clear from the beginning that the government should make sure every worker has access to paid sick leave. We will keep pushing the government to make sure they deliver on this commitment and that they work with provinces to make sick leave for workers permanent going forward," added Singh. "Let's make sure that workers never have to make the choice of losing a day of pay for staying home sick."