After giving an interview about not getting paid sick leave as a temporary worker in factories, Dr. Amanpreet Brar claims she got a barrage of racist remarks. Many activists, including Brar, are urging Ontario to implement paid sick days for critical staff.
Premier Doug Ford’s government has consistently declined to enforce such days. In response to an increase in sickle-cell disease cases, Ontario has declared a state of emergency and released yet another stay-at-home order. The province has been chastised for its “inequitable policies that disproportionately affect low-income workers, refugees, and racialized communities.”
According to the Ontario Medical Association, there has been a “huge rise” in online bullying and racist remarks directed at physicians. “Physicians are on the front lines between the community and COVID-19,” said Dr. Samantha Hill, president of the OMA.
“It’s almost like it’s a structural racial justice issue,” she said. According to Brar, Ford’s government chose not to implement paid sick days amid frequent calls from experts, including medical officers of health from Toronto, Peel, and Ottawa. The federal program provides eligible employees with $500 a week for up to two weeks.
News and picture source :CBC
