Home » Green Party bill to support workers and small businesses up for 2nd reading debate

Green Party bill to support workers and small businesses up for 2nd reading debate

by Josh O'Donnell
897 views

FREDERICTON – Green Party leader and MLA for Fredericton South David Coon’s Bill 81: An Act to Amend the Employment Standards Act will be debated during opposition day at the Legislative Assembly this afternoon.

The bill, which is intended to support workers and small businesses would:

  • Provide ten paid sick days to all workers in New Brunswick,
  • Raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour, and
  • Create a government fund to help small businesses, co-operatives and non-profits adjust to the costs of paid sick days and an increased minimum wage

“The pandemic has shown us that paid sick days are an important public health measure and $15 per hour is a lot closer to a living wage than $11.75,” said Coon. “I hope that MLAs from all parties will support this attempt to alleviate the struggles low wage New Brunswickers face when it comes to a vote this afternoon.”

To read the full text of Bill 81: An Act to Amend the Employment Standards Act, click here.

-30-