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
Peter McLellan, QC and Level Chan On November 29, 2017, the Nova Scotia Department of Finance and Treasury Board released new regulations with respect to asset transfers between pension plans that are effective November 28, 2017.…
Read MoreRick Dunlop and Kevin Landry The federal government has opened its 60-day consultation period with the release of its Proposed Approach to the Regulation of Cannabis. The paper outlines a potential regulatory framework which could…
Read MoreJosie Marks and Lara Greenough As 2017 comes to a close, please find below a summary of significant 2017 legislative amendments in each of the Atlantic Canadian provinces as well as federally, along with a…
Read MoreBrian Johnston, QC and Julia Parent In response to the report of the House of Commons committee on pay equity, the federal Liberal government announced its intention to bring in legislation to better ensure that…
Read MorePaul Smith and Dante Manna On November 14, 2017, Bill 22, also known as the proposed Pooled Registered Pension Plan Act (the “NB Act”), was introduced in the New Brunswick Legislature. If passed, New Brunswick…
Read MoreAndrew Burke and Kevin Landry The Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) has made two recent changes to the TSX Company Manual that will impact disclosure: A. It introduced a requirement for many corporate listed issuers to…
Read MoreJennifer Taylor There is a role for social justice in statutory interpretation, according to the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal in the recent decision of Sparks v Nova Scotia (Assistance Appeal Board). This case is…
Read MoreKevin Landry and Jamie Watson New Brunswick’s proposed cannabis regulatory scheme has been introduced. An initial press release was followed by the introduction of amendments to the New Brunswick Liquor Control Act, and the Motor…
Read MorePeter McLellan, QC & Level Chan In September 2017, Nova Scotia’s Department of Finance and Treasury Board announced that stakeholder input is being sought regarding potential permanent changes to the funding framework for defined benefit…
Read MoreAndrew Burke & Divya Subramanian Securities markets around the world are grappling with new concerns: As fintechs make cryptocurrency offerings such as Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs), Initial Token Offerings (ITOs) or other digital token offerings,…
Read More