Ford is dividing Windsor-Essex: Natyshak

QUEEN’S PARK — Taras Natyshak, NDP MPP for Essex and the Official Opposition critic for Ethics and Accountability, told the legislature Wednesday that Doug Ford is dividing the Windsor-Essex region, with potentially dangerous consequences, by dodging all responsibility for getting Windsor-Essex out of Stage One.

“Our local economy has been devastated and lives have been lost because Doug Ford continuously fails to deal with COVID-19 outbreaks,” said Natyshak. “But instead of fixing what he broke, Ford is cruelly finger-pointing at farmers when he should be looking in the mirror.

“Thanks to Ford’s blame game, farmers and greenhouse growers are now getting threats, and the outbreaks are raging unchecked.”

One greenhouse grower sent a message to Natyshak saying “… we are fearing the safety of our family right now. The division created by Mr. Ford in our community is unsafe, and not acceptable.”

The Financial Accountability Office confirmed Tuesday that Windsor-Essex’s economy has been the hardest hit by COVID-19.

“The Windsor-Essex region should be open. It’s closed because of Doug Ford,” said Natyshak. “Every day that families are struggling to put food on the table is another day Ford isn’t taking action to address the outbreaks, and get this economy open.”

Quotes

Greenhouse grower, Essex region
Hi Taras! I want to sincerely thank you for not causing a further division between farmers and the rest of the community as we saw Ford do yesterday and was followed by our mayor in Kingsville. I am the wife of a greenhouse farmer and we are fearing the safety of our family right now. The division created by Mr. Ford in our community is unsafe, and not acceptable. This would better be fixed if we could work together to find a solution to this complicated issue. Migrant workers are humans and have rights as well, farm owners walk a fine line with human rights to make this work and need more community support, not division. Unfortunately the fact that testing is happening is not being publicized and it paints a horrible picture to this community. I thank you for your wisdom and maturity during this unprecedented time.