Remember back on Thursday, May 20th, 2021 – when Doug Ford unveiled his so-called “re-opening plan”?
Ford’s “plan” had three further “stages” in Ontario’s continued lockdown. None of the three “stages” described lifting social gathering restrictions or mask mandates or involved returning life in Ontario back to normal. All of the “stages” included continuing with the emergency powers and the related measures implemented under those powers pursuant to the Ford government’s Bill 195 – the Reopening Act which should have been named the Lockdown Act.
Stage 3 of Ford’s plan still imposes mask mandates and capacity limits on indoor gatherings, retail, restaurants, churches, and outdoor gatherings. Despite “Stage 3” not being much of a prize or step in returning life in Ontario back to normal, the Ford government insisted that in order for Ontario to enter Stage 3, 75% of Ontarians must have received their first vaccine dose and 25% their second vaccine dose.
As of mid-June, these “requirements” were easily exceeded, yet the Ontario government was not interested in loosening restrictions and only allowed Stage 3 in mid-July when over 55% of Ontarians had received their second vaccine dose.
The Ford government has no plan on life beyond its three “stages” of continued restrictions. While laying out criteria to satisfy in Step 3, Ford’s newly appointed Chief Medical Officer of Health said that there was “not ever a contemplation of a 4th Step.” And just before the summer, the Ford government passed a motion extending their emergency powers until December.
Other jurisdictions around the world and other Canadian provinces – with lower vaccination numbers than Ontario – have dropped mask mandates and all other lockdown restrictions. So, why is the Ontario government still continuing with mask mandates and imposing any social gathering restrictions at all? And why did the Ontario government need to extend their emergency powers until December?
Because the Ford government does not have a “plan” to return life in Ontario back to normal any time soon. Extending lockdown measures and the continued use of emergency powers isn’t based on “science” – it is a re-election strategy for Ontario’s Ford government.
Belinda Karahalios
MPP, Cambridge, North Dumfries, North Brant
