Vaccine rollout big topic at Queen’s Park “Question Period” following 2-month winter break
Posted February 16, 2021 1:33 pm.
Last Updated February 16, 2021 3:36 pm.
Things got a little heated during the first Question Period at Queen’s Park in two months
Liberal MPP John Fraser went right after Premier Doug Ford regarding the vaccine rollout in long-term care.
“It’s been more than two months since vaccines have arrived here in Ontario,” Fraser said.
“We are weeks behind other provinces…can the Premier explain to families how we fell so far behind.”
Ford strongly opposed, saying “We’re actually leading the entire country, bar none, no one is coming close to 59 percent of all second doses in Canada. In the entire country.”
On the issue of paid sick days, Premier Ford says he’s not budging on that because there is already a federal paid sick days program in place.
Horwath tells reporters “It’s disappointing that Mr. Ford’s government wasn’t interested in paying those respects” she says it’s not clear who on the government benches said no to the motion.
— Richard Southern (@RichardCityNews) February 16, 2021
NDP leader Andrea Horwath went right after Ford on the matter saying they (paid sick days) are being recommended by “virtually everyone.”
Horwath also asked the Premier why the economy is starting to reopen against many doctors’ advice.
The NDP is calling on the federal government to create mass vaccination clinics to help innoculate as many Canadians as possible.
“The Prime Minister needs to stop hiding behind the restrictions excuses and do everything necessary to vaccinate everyone,” Jagmeet Singh said Tuesday.
Singh making the demand during Question Period, but the idea is being quickly dismissed by the feds.
The Prime Minister notes the constitution is clear and the provinces are responsible for delivering health care for the vast majority of Canadians and he will continue to work with Premiers to make sure everyone who wants a vaccine can get one.
Niagara Region is the only region that moved to the strictest grey-lockdown category of the restrictions system today, which allows most businesses to open at 25 percent capacity.
The rest of the regions, most of them outside the Greater Toronto Area, fall elsewhere along the scale that moves from red — the second-most strict level — through green, with lighter restrictions on businesses and gatherings at each stage.
Toronto, Peel Region, York Region, and North Bay Parry Sound are set to remain under the stay-at-home order until at least Feb. 22.
Three health units — Hastings Prince Edward; Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox, and Addington; and Renfrew County — returned to the green category of the system last week.
Ontario reported 904 new cases of COVID-19 Tuesday.
With files from The Canadian Press and 680 NEWS Parliament Hill reporter Cormac Mac Sweeney
