Ford issues statement amidst backlash from opposition: ‘Stop politicizing the vaccine rollout’
Posted April 15, 2021 1:02 pm.
Last Updated April 15, 2021 6:24 pm.
With COVID-19 cases at a record high and questions persisting over the province’s vaccine rollout, it was an all-out battle between Ontario Premier Doug Ford and opposition NDP leader Andrea Horwath.
“The warnings came from the experts back in February that we were going to end up exactly where we are now,” said Horwath at Queen’s Park on Thursday.
Ford fired back, calling Horwath’s comments ironic.
“The negative talk that comes out of the leader of the opposition again, and it’s ironic, it’s coming from a person that has done diddly squat. Nothing. Zero, sat in her seat and sits there and criticizes.”
The heat facing the Premier and his government led to Ford issuing a full statement, reading in part, “For the past several days, the opposition has spread misinformation and dangerously politicized the province’s efforts to vaccinate 114 high-risk neighbourhoods.”
“These hotspots were identified based on analysis conducted by the COVID-19 science advisory table, which relied on Public Health Ontario Data and were confirmed by the non-partisan vaccine force,” said Ford.
“… Regions in the highest 20 percent were identified as hotspot communities. Regions in the top-30 percent, that faced additional barriers, including sociodemographic ones, were also included.”
RELATED: Ford, cabinet actively discussing Ontario-wide curfew – sources
On Tuesday, Ontario announced its plan to roll out vaccines to “hot spot” regions across the province as part of Phase 2.
Through this drive, 114 highly impacted neighbourhoods, as identified by postal code, will be reached through mass immunization clinics, mobile teams and pop-up clinics.
Residents aged 18 and over in designated hot spots, as identified by postal code, are eligible for vaccination through mobile teams and pop-up clinics in targeted settings.
The rollout will begin in Peel and Toronto with the province providing additional resources to support more mobile vaccination teams while expanding to hot spots in other public health units in the future.
In response to Ford, the NDP leader said, “The people of Ontario deserve so much better than this.”
Horwath asked the Premier about the cancelled vaccine appointments at Scarborough yesterday, to which the Premier said it was a supply issue.
“Since January, the K2V postal code in Ottawa had 44 percent more cases per 10,000 than the provincial average. As well, this postal code saw 25 percent more COVID-19 deaths,” Ford’s statement continues.
“These indicators were considered in addition to the fact that this postal code’s sociodemographic data from the most recent census shows a racialized community of over 40 percent.”
NEW – Minister Sylvia Jones confirms that cabinet is meeting this afternoon. When asked about the possibly of a curfew she says the small percentage of people who flaunt the rules need to be held to account. pic.twitter.com/bv2hUYTnwb
— Richard Southern (@RichardCityNews) April 15, 2021
Ford defended his government’s rollout and distribution plan to date, accusing the Liberals and NDPs of playing politics.
“If the NDP and Liberals would prefer we ignore expert scientific advice in service of protecting our most vulnerable, they should say so plainly,” the statement reads.
“If not, they should stop politicizing the vaccine rollout.”
It has been confirmed to 680 NEWS that Ford is meeting with cabinet today to go over added restrictions in the province.
“When we see intensive care unit beds filling up, we’re all concerned,” said Minister Sylvia Jones, who wouldn’t rule out a curfew.
“All options are on the table. We need to ensure the small percentage of people who continue to flaunt the rules are held accountable.”
Horwath said the Ford government’s response is lacking.
“I think it’s shameful that the Minister and the Premier are blaming everyday Ontarians when the government has not done their part.”
