Time has run out for paid-sick-leave legislation, Green MLA complains

The Higgs government is being accused of running out the clock on any discussion of adopting paid-sick-leave legislation for New Brunswick workers. 

With the legislature set to adjourn June 7 for the last time before a fall provincial election, Labour Minister Greg Turner has not yet tabled a much-anticipated report on the idea. 

The report has been ready for at least three months, and Green MLA Megan Mitton says the delay means it's no longer possible for a bill on paid sick leave to become law before the election.

"Disappointingly, no," she said.

"They've dropped the ball on this and made it clear they don't care to stand up for workers' rights and don't care to bring in paid sick days like we've been urging them to." 

Turner struggled to explain to reporters on Friday why he hasn't been able to release his own department's report yet, attributing the delay to "the schedule" but reaffirming his vow to get it out before the legislative session ends.

"The planners schedule things, but I know it's on the agenda, let's say, for sure, for next week, and hopefully it's before the end of the week so we can scrutinize it," he said.

"That would be the hope." 

Green Leader David Coon introduced legislation in December 2022 that would provide sick workers with up to 10 days of paid leave.

The bill also included a provision to help employers with the cost.

The province had a record number of flu hospitalizations at the time and was also grappling at the time with soaring rates of COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV.

Coon argued the paid leave would make it easier for workers to stay home, decreasing their chances of infecting others.

His bill was sent to the legislature's law amendments committee, which decided not to advance it but to instead ask the Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour to hold consultations and prepare a report.

The department's deputy minister Dan Mills told Mitton at a public accounts committee meeting on Feb. 22 that that work was finished.