The Liberal government has introduced legislation to provide workers in federally regulated sectors with 10 days of sick pay — while also making it an offence to intimidate or prevent patients from seeking care, or to interfere with health professionals trying to deliver it.

Bill C-3, which amends the Criminal Code and the Canada Labour Code, was unveiled today by Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan and Justice Minister David Lametti.

O’Regan said the pandemic showed how a lack of sick days left many workers at risk. He said that now is the “time to close the gap that the pandemic exposed in our social safety net.”

“It