Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Office of the Chief Public Health Officer just released a latest public health warning expecting an influx of respiratory illnesses in a wave from down south to head up here. Additionally, we know COVID is still spreading and we just recently released the bivalent vaccination. And this all, Mr. Speaker, is to say it's a reminder that when you are sick, it is best to stay home. Yet, Mr. Speaker, for many people that is not an option.
When surveyed, the number 1 reason people go to work sick is because they can't afford it. And, Mr. Speaker, the solution to that problem is simple: that is to require paid sick days.
The federal government has recently mandated ten paid sick days for all federally regulated employees. BC government requires five paid sick days. And, Mr. Speaker, I believe this should be a legacy of the COVID pandemic, is that we, as the GNWT, require paid sick days for all workers. And, Mr. Speaker, we're not talking about a lot here. When BC enacted this legislation, they worked with employers and employers said that more than half of employees don't use all of their paid sick time. And generally, a typical employee takes one to five sick days per year. But those one to five paid sick days a year, Mr. Speaker, prevents spreading illness in the workplace. Additionally, Mr. Speaker, for businesses who were surveyed in BC experienced increased productivity, retention of trained staff, reduced the risk of injury, improved worker morale, and increased labour force participation; all things employers want and all things we are desperately in need of in our retention and recruitment problem here in the territory.
Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment about whether we can begin the steps to engage with businesses on implementing paid sick days. At a very first step, I think we have to find out who currently is not getting paid sick days in the Northwest Territories and what businesses view as a barrier to providing their workers with paid sick leave. I'll have questions for the Minister. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Members' statements. Member for Kam Lake.
