"Be good corporate citizens; show you respect Ottawa’s janitors and pay lost wages," pleads a union and advocacy statement.

B.C. says the move is an attempt to improve wages and work environments and make frontline work more desirable.

The critical role played by custodial staff has been increasingly recognized during COVID-19.

Chartwell announced it has launched the CaRES Fund in partnership with other sector leaders to help support senior living workers on the front-lines.