Doug Ford’s New Social Gathering Restrictions Suggest 11 People Together for Thanksgiving is a “Wild Party”
On Wednesday, September 16th, Premier Doug Ford announced new “social gathering” restrictions that will be in place for the next 28 days, limiting the number of people you can have in your home to 10. The new measures come with penalties – a $750 fine for each person and at least a $10,000 fine for the organizer.
Initially, the Premier announced the new restrictions would only apply to the regions that account for over 70% of daily COVID-19 cases – Toronto, Ottawa, and Peel region.
Three days later, Ford changed his mind and decided they would apply right across the province because he wanted to put an end to “wild parties.”
As a result, residents of rural Ontario whose regions have not experienced a significant increase in daily reported COVID-19 cases will have to live with new laws telling them how many people they can have in their homes – even for Thanksgiving. Having 11 people over for Thanksgiving does not fall into the category of a “wild party.”
As a result of Ford’s Bill 195, the Premier was able to create these new social gathering restrictions and change his mind in just a few days on how widespread they would be applied, without any debate, or discussion, among Ontario MPPs.
Furthermore, these new restrictions were put in place without the Ford government having released to the public any framework, objective criteria, or benchmarks that they were following in considering further restrictions or a 2nd shutdown.
On September 16th, I asked the Ford government about this during question period. Ontario’s Solicitor General Silvia Jones responded by refusing to commit to the idea of providing the public with a framework. She insisted instead that the Ford government was making all of its decisions based on the advice of “experts.”
Six days later, the Ford government decided to release a “fall preparedness plan.”
It is too bad Doug Ford and his cabinet weren’t willing to listen to my suggestions on the use of Bill 195 while I was inside the PC caucus. Instead, they seem determined to keep making things up as they go.
In spite of these new measures, I hope you will be able to enjoy a healthy, happy, and safe Thanksgiving.
Belinda Karahalios
519-650-2770
