The province has reached out for help to deal with the third wave of COVID-19.
Health Minister Christine Elliott confirmed that Ontario needs Ottawa’s help with Armed Forces and Canadian Red Cross personnel.
“We are seeing increasing numbers of people in our intensive care units,” said Elliott. “As we are building more beds we have created more spaces we have set back and delayed some of the emergency surgeries and procedures.”
Elliott went onto say: “This is just a way really to get more assistance, if possible, from both the red cross and armed forces, which had been offered beforehand.”
Back on Thursday, April 15th, Premier Doug Ford refused the offer of aid in the form of COVID-19 mobile vaccination teams from the Canadian Red Cross after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made it available.
“While we appreciate the Prime Minister’s offer unless it is matched with an increase in supply, we do not need the Red Cross at this time for administration of vaccines in Ontario,” a statement from the premier’s office said on Friday, April 16th. “We do not have a capacity issue, we have a supply issue.”
Newfoundland and Labrador has put their hand up to help Ontario in the coming days
Details are coming together for the Newfoundland and Labrador contingent of health care professionals heading to Ontario to offer COVID-19 help. Talking to Premier @fordnation over the weekend, and expect to provide an update tomorrow – looks like they’ll be on their way Tuesday!
— Premier of NL (@PremierofNL) April 25, 2021
The Deputy Premier indicates Public Safety Minister Bill Blair hasn’t responded to the request for help.
