McGuinty muses about ending bankable sick days for police, firefighters

TORONTO – Premier Dalton McGuinty is urging Ontario municipalities to consider ending bankable sick days for police and firefighters to control costs.

The governing Liberals are trying to impose new contracts on tens of thousands of teachers that would eliminate the practice of banking unused sick days to be cashed out at retirement.

The controversial legislation sparked a massive protest by teachers who say they feel betrayed by the government they’ve supported for nine years.

McGuinty says the province just can’t afford those benefits anymore and needs the money for things like full-day kindergarten.

He says municipalities need to ask themselves whether they should continue to allow police and firefighter to bank unused sick days.

The Ontario Association of Police Service Boards says it agrees with McGuinty, but says he should take responsibility for the costs of the Ontario Provincial Police, whose contract talks are going on now.