Ontario Construction News staff writer
Queen’s Park passed two pieces of legislation Thursday aimed at protecting the jobs of employees, including those in the construction industry, who self-isolate or are quarantined as a result of COVID-19.
The legislation is also geared towards keeping store shelves stocked and giving municipal councils the flexibility to continue operations while maintaining social distance. It took only 26 MPPs to pass the bill, number that was kept intentionally small due to social-distancing measures, a first in the history of the province.
“I want to thank all parties for coming together to pass this important legislation so we can deliver immediate relief to Ontario workers and families,” said Premier Doug Ford.
“The health and safety of the people of Ontario is our number one priority and that’s why we are protecting the jobs of workers and making sure that essentials like groceries, household basics, and medicine can arrive on store shelves. We must work together as Team Ontario to slow the spread of COVID-19 and flatten the curve.”
The Employment Standards Amendment Act (Infectious Disease Emergencies), 2020 provides job-protected leave for employees who are in isolation or quarantine due to COVID-19, or those who need to be away from work to care for children because of school or day care closures or to care for other relatives. These measures are retroactive to Jan. 25, 2020, the date the first presumptive COVID-19 case was confirmed in Ontario. The legislation will also make it clear employees cannot be required to show buy klonopin online cheap sick notes.
“During this time of great uncertainty, the last thing employees should have to worry about is job security,” said Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development. “People can’t be punished for following the advice of our leading medical health professionals.”
The Municipal Emergency Act, 2020 will ensure that for the near future, the delivery of goods to Ontario’s businesses and consumers isn’t impacted by municipal noise bylaws that may unintentionally be impeding such deliveries when they are most urgently needed. The legislation also gives municipalities the ability to fully conduct council, local board and committee meetings electronically when faced with local and province-wide emergencies, empowering the government’s municipal partners to respond quickly when in-person meetings cannot be held.
“These changes will assist in getting goods to market in a more expeditious manner. Our government wants to do everything we can to help connect distribution centres with grocery stores and pharmacies to replenish empty shelves more quickly,” said Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
“As well, we are helping communities respond to this crisis by allowing councils to conduct meetings remotely. These changes empower municipalities to respond quickly and continue to function when in-person meetings cannot be held, and council decisions need to be made.”
The federal government has also announced measures to protect the income of workers, including those who are self-employed. Among those measures is a $5 billion fund to assist workers not covered by employment insurance.