BC Liberal Leadership candidate Kevin Falcon says the BC NDP government was wrong to introduce five permanent sick days during the COVID-19 pandemic to keep workers healthy and safe.

"They make a lot of really bad decisions," said Falcon at a leadership candidate debate yesterday. "Whether it’s raising minimum wage in the middle of a COVID crisis, or whether it’s, you know, increasing corporate tax rates, or whether it’s, just as they recently did two days ago, adding five paid workdays."

In addition to opposing the BC NDP government’s plan to introduce five permanent sick days starting January 1, 2022, he also questions other initiatives brought in by Premier John Horgan to help people including:

• Increasing the minimum wage during the pandemic to $15.20 per hour
• Increasing the taxes on wealthy corporations
• Eliminating MSP premiums

Garry Begg, MLA for Surrey-Guildford:

"It appears Kevin Falcon thinks it is a good idea for people to go to work sick. If it is bad timing to introduce paid sick days when workers need them most, it is clear it will always be a bad time for him to help people and a good time to cut services they need to pay for tax cuts for the wealthy and well-connected."