Ford Meets with Trudeau as Case Counts Climb in Ontario

Thursday, 16 December 2021 11:45

The conversation centred around vaccines, health care spending and the fast spreading Omicron variant.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau today to talk about COVID-19 and the economy.

Ford says it was a productive conversation and both men agreed on the urgency of the current situation surrounding the Omicron variant. Trudeau promised enough vaccines for everyone in the Province to get a booster shot. Ford also asked the Prime Minister to increase the share of territorial-provincial health care spending to 35 per cent.

You can read the entire message from the Premier below:

“Today, I had a very positive and productive conversation with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on a wide range of issues, including actions we are taking to respond to the rapidly spreading Omicron COVID-19 variant.

We agreed on the urgency of the evolving situation. We also stressed the importance for everyone to exercise caution over the holidays and accelerating the rollout of third doses across the country. The prime minister assured me the federal government will make sure there will be vaccines for all Ontarians as we continue to rapidly expand capacity and eligibility for booster doses to individuals 18 years and older. I also highlighted that Ontario is making millions of free rapid tests available at pop-up sites across the province and reiterated that every single rapid test we have received is on its way out the door.

There is no question the pandemic has tested our health care system, which is why I once again raised with the prime minister the urgent need for the federal government to increase its share of territorial-provincial health care spending to 35 per cent.

I also reiterated Ontario’s commitment to continue working with the federal government to address the housing affordability crisis and making home ownership a reality for more Ontarians, as well as reaching a fair deal that will make child care affordable for parents in Ontario.

Finally, the prime minister and I spoke about protecting an integrated North American economy that employs millions of workers on both sides of the border. We agreed that we cannot let protectionist policies proposed by the United States, including the electric vehicle rebate for American built cars, put Ontario jobs and our country’s economic success at risk. This is particularly important at a time when our government is unleashing the full potential of Ontario’s auto sector as we build an economy that will compete globally now and in the future.

We agreed to continue working together in the months ahead on these and many other critical issues facing Ontarians.”