A bill put forward by Green Party MLA Matt MacFarlane was voted down in the provincial legislature on Wednesday by the Progressive Conservatives with their majority. MacFarlane’s amendment to the Employment Standards Act would have removed the sick note clause. In putting the bill forward the Greens suggested that an estimated 8,000 hours of clinical time is wasted annually on writing sick notes – time it says could be better used towards patient care. Premier King said Wednesday that there have to be rules in effect to ensure accountability and that sick leave privileges are not abused.