Government of Canada proposes 10 days of paid medical leave for federally-regulated employees
Killian McParland and Emily Murray
On Friday, November 26, 2021, the Liberal federal government moved to fulfill its campaign promise to provide 10 days of paid medical leave of absence (also referred to as “sick days”) for all federally-regulated employees within 100 days of being re-elected.
Bill C-3 would do so by amending the Canada Labour Code to remove the ability to use paid personal leave for illness and injury and replace it with up to 10 paid days of medical leave.
As drafted, an employee would earn one day of paid medical leave after each month of employment, up to a maximum of 10 days in a calendar year. The paid leave could be taken in one or more periods, but the employer may require that each period be taken as at least one day. Employers would be able to require a medical certificate for any medical leave with pay (but for medical leaves without pay, only where it is at least three days). Bill C-3 may change before it is passed and additional rules may follow in supporting regulations.
After introducing Bill C-3, the Minister of Labour Seamus O’Regan advised that the government will engage in consultations with federally-regulated employers and workers to better understand the impact of these changes on their workplaces and local realities.
While these legislative amendments would only impact federally-regulated employers and employees, paid medical leave remains a topical issue in the ongoing fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Just two days before the federal government’s announcement, the British Columbia government announced that it would be amending its provincial employment standards legislation to provide a minimum of five days of paid sick leave per year as of January 1, 2022.
This will remain an area to watch for all Canadian employers.
This client update is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. If you have any questions about the above, please contact a member of our Labour and Employment group.
Click here to subscribe to Stewart McKelvey Thought Leadership.
Archive
By Brendan Sheridan While COVID-19 restrictions have been easing throughout Canada for the past several months, many foreign workers and international students are still feeling its effects. In particular, individuals who were on post-graduate work…
Read MoreBy: John Samms, Sadira Jan, Paul Kiley, Dave Randell, Alanna Waberski, and Jayna Green As we explained in our July 6, 2022 “Winds of Change” article, the announcement made by Minister Andrew Parsons on April…
Read MoreIncluded in Beyond the Border – July 2022 By Brittany Trafford; Fredericton Brief Overview In an attempt to address the Canadian labour market shortages, the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (“EMPP”), was introduced in 2018.…
Read MoreIncluded in Beyond the Border – July 2022 By Brendan Sheridan; Halifax Canadian employers are increasingly relying on foreign workers to fill gaps in the labour market and to provide specialized skills. In 2020,…
Read MoreBy Alanna Waberski, Graham Haynes and Maria Cummings On June 10, 2022, the Government of New Brunswick proclaimed into force Bill 95, which amends the Business Corporations Act (New Brunswick) (the “NBBCA”) to require corporations…
Read MoreIncluded in Discovery: Atlantic Education & the Law – Issue 10 Hannah Brison and Dante Manna Increased financial volatility caused by recent global events has caused public sector defined benefit (“DB”) pension plans to reflect…
Read MoreIncluded in Beyond the Border – July 2022 By Sara Espinal Henao; Halifax It is a well-known fact that Atlantic Canada needs workers. In the aftermath of COVID-19, regional employers in the trucking, health, construction,…
Read MoreBy: John Samms, Matthew Craig, Dave Randell, and Jayna Green On July 26, 2022 the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador (the “Province”) released “Guidelines: Nominating Crown Lands for Wind Energy Projects” (the “Guidelines”). Described as…
Read MoreIncluded in Discovery: Atlantic Education & the Law – Issue 10 By Kate Profit Tenure is a well known and often discussed topic amongst academics. Viewed by unions as a cornerstone of modern universities,…
Read MoreDalton McGuinty Jr. and Kegan Bradley On May 17th, 2022, Canada’s largest car-sharing company, Turo, brought their platform to Prince Edward Island. The service allows car owners (lessors) to lend out their vehicles to drivers…
Read More