A private member's bill designed to provide survivors of domestic or sexual violence with paid leave from work has received unanimous support in the Ontario legislature.
Bill 26, the Domestic and Sexual Violence Workplace Leave, Accommodation and Training Act, was introduced by London West NDP MPP Peggy Sattler who believes the bill could have had an impact in preventing workplace tragedies like the death of Windsor nurse Lori Dupont or Theresa Vince who was a Sears employee in Chatham.
The bill passed second reading on Thursday.
Bill 26 would entitle survivors to up to ten days of paid leave from work.
"It gives survivors time to see a doctor, access services from a women's shelter, talk to a psychologist," says Sattler.
Sattler tells AM800 news the bill would also provide for workplace accommodations such as changes to hours or location.
"The bill would have allowed for flexible work arrangements, so Lori Dupont and Theresa Vince knowing the harassment they were receiving from their abusers could have requested a change to where they were working," she says.
The bill has now been referred to the standing committee on the legislative assembly.