Emergency legislation aimed at protecting workers who are forced to stay home due to the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to be passed today in the Ontario Legislature.
Premier Doug Ford promised the bill earlier this week and said it will apply to employees under investigation, supervision or treatment for the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
The legislation would also protect workers in isolation or in quarantine and those who need to provide care to a person for a reason related to COVID-19, including for a school or daycare closure.
The government house leader says he expects the bill to pass with unanimous consent from all parties to get it through quickly.
Due to social distancing requirements, there will only be 24 members there for the vote: 12 governing Progressive Conservatives, eight New Democrats, two Liberals, one Green and the Speaker.
They will be allowed to sit anywhere to ensure there is enough space between them.
Ford has called a news conference for 12 p.m. He will be joined by Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development, and Rod Phillips, Minister of Finance. AM800 will carry the news conference live.
— With files from the Canadian Press