As the Doug Ford PC’s at Queen’s Park cut time-off entitlements for workers in Ontario the Justin Trudeau Liberals are looking to give federally regulated workers MORE paid personal leave days. Federal budget legislation would let workers take up to five days off each calendar year for reasons such as the care of relatives, children’s educations, or to attend their own citizenship ceremonies.

The bill, introduced this week, says three of the days off would be with pay for employees who’ve had their jobs at least three straight months. The federal legislation is also proposing changes that would provide five days of paid leave for victims of family violence, unpaid leave for court or jury duty and a fourth week of annual vacation for employees who have at least ten consecutive years of employement. The changes would also eliminate minimum length of service requirements for when workers become eligible for general holiday pay, sick leave, maternity leave and parental leave.

Joining us to discuss the proposal and the motivation behind it, Chris Roberts, National Director of the Social and Economic Policy Department of the Canadian Labour Congress, and Conservative Labour critic, MP John Barlow.