The B.C. government getting close to $2 billion in the latest federal aid package for provinces, including help for paid sick leave in the COVID-19 pandemic, Premier John Horgan says.
After a lengthy conference call with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other premiers July 16, Horgan congratulated Trudeau for putting $1.1 billion toward paid leave across the country 鈥渢o make sure that people don鈥檛 go to work sick.鈥�
Horgan, Yukon Premier Sandy Silver and Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister spearheaded the effort to extend sick pay to people who don鈥檛 have it from their employers. Details on whether the program will be delivered via the Employment Insurance or another method are still to be worked out, but it will be 鈥渘ationally funded and nationally coordinated,鈥� Horgan said.
He credited provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry for making infection control in workplaces a central part of the province鈥檚 relaxing of pandemic controls.
鈥淒r. Henry made it pretty clear to me early on in the pandemic that the biggest challenge we had in the restart was making sure that people didn鈥檛 go to work when they had potential symptoms that could lead to transmission to other workers or customers in the economy,鈥� Horgan said.
The latest federal aid includes 50-50 shared support with B.C. on keeping transit operating and helping municipalities with their costs.
鈥淭here鈥檚 an increase in funding for mental health issues,鈥� Horgan said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 an increase in funding for child care. There鈥檚 an increase in funding for vulnerable populations, those with disabilities, and more to come in that regard.鈥�
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