N.B. Chambers Of Commerce Oppose Paid Sick Leave Proposal

FREDERICTON — The chambers of commerce in Fredericton, Moncton and Saint John are expressing their concern with the federal government’s proposal to require 10 paid sick leave days per employee per year.

On Monday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he’ll be speaking with provinces regarding sick days, saying the government wants to ensure workers have access to 10 days of paid sick leave every year.

The organizations say they have written to the prime minister, saying the plan would place a substantial financial burden on businesses at the worst possible time in the fledgling days of Canada’s Covid-19 recovery phase.

“While we appreciate the heightened importance of public health due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we must be equally aware of any legislation or programs that place even more additional financial burden on Canadian business at a time when they can least afford it,” said John Wishart, CEO of the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Moncton, in a news release.

The chambers say that their members and businesses in New Brunswick are facing a number of unprecedented external and internal pressures on their operations. As the recovery phase of this pandemic continues, they say many businesses are finding it more and more difficult to absorb fixed costs as revenues have been hit dramatically.

“Through increasing costs for businesses who have already been facing the struggles of navigating through this once in a lifetime pandemic, this raises concerns over what future implications could look like,” said David Duplisea, CEO of the Saint John Region Chamber of Commerce.

“We do however welcome the quick federal response supporting businesses and listening to the policy reform efforts of the Chamber network across the country.”
They say further layering of costs will only lengthen the road to recovery for businesses.

“It’s hard to fathom that at a time when the federal government has recognized the plight of the economy with nearly $150 billion in COVID-19 support to employers and employees that they would even consider imposing such a significant new cost on small businesses,” said Krista Ross, CEO of Fredericton Chamber of Commerce.