After months of mounting pressure from opposition parties, scientific advisers, labour groups and local medical officers of health across the province, the Ontario government has unveiled a plan to provide three paid sick days by reimbursing employers through a temporary pandemic program that will run through to September. Does it meet what many have been calling for? Rosie and Elamin take a close look at the proposal and how Doug Ford’s government handled the highly anticipated announcement on Wednesday.

The two also reflect on a story that held the attention of many people this week: the death of 13-year-old Emily Viegas in Brampton, Ontario, one of the youngest Canadians to die of COVID-19. Elamin and Rosie examine whether enough messaging is getting through about the severity of this variant-driven third wave of the pandemic.