Liberals pledge to launch a "demonstration" to showcase the potential of a four-day workweek, and to consult with business and labor groups to design and evaluate the model.

Liberal leader Steven Del Duca said the pandemic prompted the need to examine work-life balance.

"The idea of work-life balance has gotten out of control. I think especially during the pandemic, people are stressed, and we are seeing a decline in worker productivity."

The New Democratic Party says they will reintroduce one of their private member's bills from 2021, which would establish a four-day workweek commission to make recommendations on how to implement a one-year pilot project.

New Democratic Party leader Andrea Horwath said this would allow the government to explore the opportunities a compressed workweek could bring but also identify any challenges that may arise.

She said, "Still, some things I want to highlight are concerns about ensuring people's income is not negatively affected as the cost of everything rises."

Rocco Rossi, CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, said an increasing number of companies are testing four-day workweeks, but it is important that these decisions come from employers.

He said in a written statement: "Governments can play a role in encouraging, enabling, or incentivizing flexible work, although policymakers will need to be careful to avoid potential disruption to businesses, the economy, and the workforce."

Progressive Conservative leader Doug Ford said it is better to leave decisions regarding workweeks to the private sector.

He said, "I won't dictate to companies what is best for them." The four-day workweek is a reality for "Zorra Township" employees.

Chief Administrative Officer Don MacLeod said what started as an eight-month pilot project has become permanent based on positive feedback from workers.

He said, "Everyone is very happy to be working four days a week." "There is a lightness in the office that we didn't have before."

MacLeod prepares Mondays for golfing, now that the weather is nice, and takes his elderly father to appointments.

He said, "Employees with children expected to be able to spend more time with family,"

but they found that since their children are at school or daycare during their Monday or Friday day off, it became time for themselves.

MacLeod said, "It’s an opportunity for people to get doctor appointments, do some shopping and recreational activities only."

"I think there’s a lot we can do as employers to help our employees better manage their lives and ultimately, it makes them more productive and happier to be at work."

MacLeod added that most employees work nine hours a day, four days a week, but there are meaningless departments, such as public works and recreation, where flexibility was provided to them in other ways.

Ryan Malo, from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, said small businesses represented by his organization have many questions about the New Democratic and Liberal proposals.

"I think it’s something easy to understand if you are an accountant or a law firm, or anything of that nature of white-collar workers, but if you are a retailer, a restaurant, or a movie theater, there are many questions just about how it would work if it comes into effect."