Canada’s Health Minister feels the province can fix some COVID-19 issues that the Premier is blaming on the federal government.
Patty Hajdu said Doug Ford can tighten border restrictions if he believes it’s necessary.
“The Prime Minister’s been really clear with the Premier that if he wishes to decrease travel even more by eliminating particular categories of travelers such as, for example, international students or temporary foreign workers, that we are more than open to those conversations with the Premier, and he has not responded,” Hajdu pointed out.
Hajdu also contradicted Ford’s claims that COVID-19 is spreading more because international travelers are not quarantining.
“Every traveler receives multiple phone calls, in-person visits, and of course sanctions are applied when there’s been violations of quarantine,” noted Hajdu. “The province has the full authority to apply those sanctions, by the way. They can fine people, they can charge people, and the Premier knows that, whether it’s at the local police level or the Ontario Provincial Police level.”
She adds that quarantining of healthy travelers is “fully under control.”
“The question I think the Premier should ask is what supports he’s providing for people who are actually sick to quarantine properly, what supports is he providing to close contacts to make sure that they, too, are quarantining properly?” asked Hajdu.
Hajdu did praise the province for allowing outdoor exercise in its re-opening plan.
