Premier Doug Ford admits his government “got it wrong” in announcing sweeping changes aimed at curbing the third wave of COVID-19.
In his first public address in almost a week, Ford stated, “We moved too fast, and I know that some of those measures, especially around enforcement, they went too far. Simply put, we got it wrong. We made a mistake. These decisions left a lot of people very concerned. In fact, they left a lot of people angry and upset.”
The province announced last Friday strict new measures allowing police to randomly stop people for violating stay-at-home orders as well as closing outdoor areas.
Playgrounds have since been allowed to reopen and police are no longer required to conduct random checks following considerable backlash. Other outdoor spaces, including golf courses, skateboard parks and other venues are still not allowed to open.
Ford rejected calls for his resignation, getting tearful and emotional in stressing his government is working around the clock and doing its best to protect Ontarians.
He adds the Ontario government is also actively working on a provincially run paid sick leave benefit to curb the spread of COVID-19 in essential workplaces, even though he’s long maintained he won’t introduce such a program because one already exists at the federal level.
“It’s going to be one of the best, in conjunction with the federal government, in entire North America. I also want to remind the people of Ontario there’s no other province in this entire country that will have the program that we’re going lay out,” pointed out the Premier.
Ford says he decided to act because Monday’s federal budget didn’t include improvements to the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit that they have been lobbying for and wanted to see. He notes $700 million has been sitting at the federal level for paid sick leave since September, but nothing is being done about it.
