Premier Doug Ford says the NDP plan to move regional hotspots into a modified Stage 1 doesn't take into account people's mental health. "It's easy for people to say just shut everything down, when they are guaranteed a pay check every single week."
ONTARIO - Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he wants to avoid another complete shut down at all costs.
Ford was responding to a question about a recent proposal from the NDP leader Andrea Horvath. Horvath is calling for hot spot regions to move into a modified Stage 1 for two weeks. Her plan would shut down all non essential businesses with the following exceptions:
- Schools should stay open, capped at 15 per class
- Restaurants and bars should be open for takeout and delivery, and given provincial funding to support them through the circuit breaker period
- Small businesses that are non-essential should be given funding to support them through the circuit breaker period
Hospitals should continue scheduled surgeries as long as it’s safe – the NDP believes this circuit breaker could prevent surgeries and diagnostics from being cancelled, as they were in the first wave.
Ford says his Government is taking a more balanced approach and Horvath's plan doesn't take into account mental health.
"How can you measure depression, the mental health of businesses, the owners when all of a sudden they go belly up. They put everything they have in their lives into their small business, be it a restaurant or a gym or any small business and you just want to shut them down."
Ford says the easy thing to do is to shut down the whole Province.
"It's easy for people to say just shut everything down, when they are guaranteed a pay check every single week."
You can listen to Ford's comments regarding lockdowns below:
Woodstock Will Name an Official Bird
The Community Challenge Set to Return
STAGES Presents: The Addams Family
Smile Cookies Raise Over $131,300 for Local Charities
Zorra Candidate Profile: Crystal Finch
UPDATE: Tornado Confirmed North of Belmont
Middlesex OPP Charge Woodstock Man
Ingersoll Man is $75,000 Richer
OPP Investigating Alcohol Theft in Ingersoll
Introducing the Heartbeat Lager!
DART Shining a Light on Strangulation
Norwich Candidate Profile - Jim Palmer
Sunrise Farms Expanding into Woodstock
Blandford-Blenheim Candidate Profile - Vanessa Hnat
Brant OPP Briefs - May 20th, 2026
Next Executive Director of United Way Oxford Revealed
Former YMCA Building to House Homelessness Support Centre
Trevor Birtch Trial Daily Recap - Case 2
Tornado & Severe Thunderstorm Warning Issued
PWHL Will Expand to San Jose
Comments
Add a comment