Ontario Liberal Party Leader Says Ford’s Lockdown Falls Far Short

Published on: 2021/04/01 - in Releases

Steven Del Duca, Leader of the Ontario Liberal Party, issued the following statement:

“Doug Ford’s response to COVID-19 has consistently been too little, too late. His half-hearted half-measures have cost lives and livelihoods.

While today’s measures are needed, they don’t go far enough. Ontario Liberals would go even further – Ontario families deserve a government willing to take decisive action to save lives and livelihoods.

First, Ontario Liberals are calling on Doug Ford to update his vaccine rollout to prioritize frontline workers.
* If we are going to keep schools open, teachers and education workers need to be prioritized in the rollout. Doug Ford cannot continue asking education workers, students and their families to risk their lives, without giving education workers a spot in line.
* We have repeatedly called for essential workers in high-risk workplaces like warehouses and meat packing facilities to be vaccinated. Communities like Peel are on fire and the government is leaving them to burn.
* Essential workers in grocery stores and childcare facilities continue to have the most in person interactions at work, and they should be vaccinated both for their own safety, and for the safety of those they interact with on the job.

Next, we need paid sick leave now – before the new measures come into effect. It is simply appalling that Doug Ford has continued to deny Ontario workers the ability to isolate when they’re sick or awaiting test results.

Lastly, we need urgent and meaningful support for the small business owners who are about to be battered by these new measures. The small business grant should be tripled for Ontario’s hardest hit small businesses.

Doug Ford has abandoned the people of Ontario time and time again. His half-hearted response to the pandemic has been nothing short of deplorable, and he continues to pass the buck and blame anybody he possibly can. He needs to wake up and act now. Lives and livelihoods are on the line.”


Release: OntarioLiberal.ca
Photo: Bryan Mills (cc)