“He’s doing the bare minimum to save a buck”

Horwath says stricter COVID-19 measures are clearly needed

QUEEN’S PARK — With Ontario experiencing a big COVID-19 wave, Premier Doug Ford is putting Ontario at risk with half measures and contradictory rules. NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said Ford’s attempt to avoid spending is costing Ontario much more.

“He is doing the bare minimum in order to save a buck,” said Horwath. “And the people of Ontario are paying a price for that.

“It’s obvious to experts and nearly everyone else that tougher measures are required to beat this dangerous wave of COVID-19. Doug Ford is twisting himself in knots to avoid having to invest in public health or the direct financial supports that businesses need if they lose income again.”

Instead of opening more assessment centres urgently, Ford is restricting all testing to by-appointment-only.

Ford’s capping Toronto, Ottawa and Peel restaurants, bars and clubs at 100 people. Toronto’s cap is currently 75.

Ford is suspending social bubbles, and replacing it with nothing but contradictory and often vague statements.

“Doug Ford is lurching from crisis to crisis. He’s applying superficial band aids to deep gashes. He never had a plan to stop the second wave from getting out of control, and so it has,” said Horwath.

“If I were premier, I would dramatically expand testing and lab capacity. And I would be making it financially possible for businesses and their staff to stay afloat, so they could withstand the stricter measures that are clearly needed.”