Ford Defends Rapid Test Roll-out in Ontario

Wednesday, 8 December 2021 at 11:49

The Premier was asked why every Ontarian is not able to access free rapid tests ahead of the busy holiday season.

Premier Doug Ford says his Government is handing out more rapid tests than any other Province in the County.

"We have given out 33 million rapid tests and to put that into perspective, BC has about 6 million people, they have given out 1.1 million, Quebec has given out 5.7 million, Ontario has given out 33 million. We are also giving out 11 million kits, 5 packs to students to bring home, so they can get tested, there family can get tested. We are giving out about a million tests every single week."

Ford was asked today, why they are not providing free tests to Ontarians, ahead of the holiday season.

"There is no one handing out more tests than we are, as a matter of fact, we are doing 57 percent of all rapid tests in the entire country. We handing out more tests than every Province and territory combined."

Ford says the tests are available across the gambit.

"We are handing it out in transit areas, to businesses, congregate care, home care, long term care and hospitals. We are handing out a million a week. Those are staggering numbers."

Liberal leader Steven Del Duca says Ford is failing Ontarians but not making more rapid tests available as case numbers rise and we get ready for the holiday season. He argues, every Ontarian, should be able to walk into a pharmacy and get a free test, to ensure they are not spreading COVID-19 over the holidays.

Official Opposition leader Andrea Horwath says that every Ontarian should have access to free rapid tests.

"We should be making rapid tests free right now, and handing out as many as we possibly can. This is part of the action plan Ontario needs to prevent another COVID wave. Let people take a rapid test before visiting with loved ones. Encourage people take a rapid test at the first signs of a cold. That’s what other provinces do, and if I were premier today, that’s what Ontario would do."