The lockdown drum beat continues from Barrie councillors.
They will consider motions Monday night asking the province to change restrictions on small businesses and offer more sick days for employees during the pandemic.
“Paid sick days are essential to ensuring that workers who are sick can stay home to protect their co-workers and the community at large,” said Coun. Keenan Aylwin, who sponsored the second motion.
Coun. Mike McCann, sponsor of the first motion, said it supports a message sent by Mayor Jeff Lehman last weekend — but that it will have more weight coming from city council.
It’s to send Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Barrie’s two MPPs — Doug Downey and Andrea Khanjin — a message to change restrictions to allow small businesses within the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit area to reopen under the current grey-lockdown zone, within the provincial COVID framework. And there’s a further request that consideration be given by the province for the Simcoe-Muskoka area to be moved back into the less-restrictive red zone.
“I don’t want it to go to red, we need it to go to red,” McCann said Thursday. “I believe right now perfect procedure and perfect protocol isn’t what we’re looking for. We need to make as much noise and let the premier know and let (medical officer of health Dr. Charles) Gardner know that this isn’t a want, this is a need. We need to get our businesses open. I’m being as loud and respectful as possible.
“And quite frankly, I believe there are other factors we need to be looking at, not just COVID-19,” he added. “We need to be looking at the mental health and stability of the self-employed market here in Barrie and Simcoe County.”
Lehman’s message was sent to the province Feb. 28, as well as to Dr. Gardner.
“I’m requesting that the province immediately revise the business restrictions within the grey category of the framework to permit small businesses to remain open that can operate with little or no public health risk,” Lehman says in the message. “We are talking about people’s livelihoods here.
“The province has already adjusted the business restrictions to allow small or ‘non-essential’ retailers to open if they can do so safely. Barrie’s small businesses need you to move quickly again," he added.
Council would also request the province to require Ontario employers to provide no less than five paid sick days annually to workers, after three months of employment, by changing the Employment Standards Act, 2000, or through a different mechanism. Also to provide necessary funding, fiscal relief and/or support to employers so that all workers in Ontario have access to no less than 10 paid sick days annually in the event of a declared infectious disease emergency such as the COVID-19 pandemic. And ensure all Ontario workers have access to protected and paid emergency leave so that care can be provided to children, parents, and/or other family members who may become ill.
“Workers are the backbone of our economy,” said Aylwin. “Workers have been caring for our loved ones in long-term care, keeping us fed and keeping essential services going throughout the pandemic, putting themselves at risk for exposure to COVID-19. Workplaces have been one of the major sources of transmission in our communities.”
The Ward 2 councillor said workers currently aren’t entitled to any paid sick days under provincial laws. The Canadian Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) provides some relief to workers during the pandemic, but isn’t a permanent program.
“Nor is it adequate to meet the needs of people who must stay home when they are sick. With the federal program, the relief is not immediate,” Aylwin said. “This is in contrast to legislated permanent paid sick days where workers’ wages would simply cover the missed days, providing immediate relief. We need permanent paid sick days in Ontario now and the provincial government has the power to make it happen.”
City council would add its support to the growing calls for permanent paid sick days in Ontario, Aylwin said, joining organizations such as the Ontario Big City Mayors’ Caucus, the Ontario Federation of Labour and the Ontario Medical Association.
“I’m hoping that the province will hear us and act quickly to protect workers in this province,” he said.
Last week, Dr. Gardner said he might ask the province to put this region, which includes Barrie, in lockdown due to a 30 per cent increase in cases, as well as community spread of the more transmissible United Kingdom variant strain of COVID-19. On Friday, the province announced it was moving Simcoe-Muskoka from red to grey (lockdown) on March 1, invoking more restrictions, such as eliminating in-establishment dining at restaurants and closing personal care shops, such as hair salons and gyms.
A petition started Feb. 26, asking the province to change the grey-zone designation for Simcoe-Muskoka, has more than 23,500 signatures.
On Feb. 28, the Barrie Chamber of Commerce asked for a modified red zone — maintaining tighter restrictions on larger stores, but allowing restaurants and businesses offering personal services to stay open by following prescribed protocols for safety and tracing.
On March 1, the Downtown Barrie Business Association (BIA), which represents more than 400 small businesses, added its voice to those requesting an immediate change of restrictions within the grey/lockdown zone designation.
