NDP calls on Ford to stop gambling with people’s lives

QUEEN’S PARK — The NDP is calling on Doug Ford and his Conservative caucus to stop attacking medical experts and ignoring health advice, and instead start making decisions based on medical science, and provide the resources and supports needed to contain the second wave.

“Doug Ford is negotiating, backing down and rolling the dice with people’s health because he refuses to provide the direct financial support business and people need,” said NDP Leader Andrea Horwath. “The government’s own Science Table wasn’t consulted about the framework. Medical experts say the plan doesn’t make sense.”

Ontario’s hospitals are already operating at critical levels with hallway medicine once again rampant. Despite soaring case counts, the Ford government announced plans to loosen restrictions last week, drawing criticism from the Ontario Hospital Association. Ford dismissed critics of his moves as “armchair quarterbacks.”

“In this time of a pandemic, we need the premier to be listening to experts, not attacking them,” said Horwath. “Ford’s own caucus members are trying to score political points by suggesting the local Medical Officers of Health are making the wrong calls. In a pandemic, we need cooperation and respect for the medical experts working to save lives.”