OPSEU/SEFPO President Warren (Smokey) Thomas reiterated his challenge to Doug Ford to rethink his opposition to paid sick days during a wide-ranging interview with CityNews Ottawa radio talk-show host Rob Snow.
“I’m asking the Premier to cast the ideology of his party aside and seriously think about paid sick days,” Thomas told Snow. “Consult with business leaders, labour leaders, and policy planners. It’s time for an adult conversation about paid sick days.”
During the interview, Thomas talked about a number of times the Ford government has shown itself willing to listen to front-line workers and experts in order to get the province through the pandemic as safely as possible.
He also praised the federal government for its commitment to $10-a-day childcare, and said he hopes a national Pharmacare plan is next up on the agenda.
“We’ll have to take on the big pharmaceutical companies, but society could save hundreds of millions of dollars if we came together to use our bulk-buying power for prescription medicines,” Thomas said.
You can listen to the entire interview here: