No Decision on Halton and Durham Potentially Moving Back Into Stage 2

Monday, 26 October 2020 13:43

Premier Doug Ford says he encouraged local politicians in Halton to write a letter voicing their concerns about potentially moving back into a modified Stage 2.

ONTARIO - The Province of Ontario is not going to make a decision today about moving Halton and Durham regions into a modified version of Stage 2.

Premier Doug Ford initially said on Friday that a decision on Halton and Durham would come today. A group of Halton Region politicians wrote an Open letter to the Chief Medical Officer of Health to Dr. David Williams, asking him not to move the region back into Stage 2. Ford explains why they didn't make the announcement this afternoon.

"I had a phone call with Mayor Burton from Oakville, we have a great relationship and, in fact we have a great relationships with all 444 municipalities, I have been speaking with our local MPP's and when Mayor Burton called me and said I don't think we are that point. This is unique because when it came to Ottawa, Peel, York, Toronto, all of the mayors agree, in Halton it's unique because we have none of the mayors not agreeing, we have the regional chair not agreeing and none of our MPP's agreeing."

Ford says he was the person to encourage them to write that letter.

"I suggested to write a letter, write a letter, let your local Chief Medical Officer know how you feel and other mayors feel and our MPP's feel. I spoke with one of our great MPP's Jane McKenna and said I encourage you to write the letter. That somehow got twisted by a local media outlet that we are not working together. Let me be very clear, this province, all 444 municipalities, our entire caucus, the Federal Government we are all working together."

Ford says they don't always agree at caucus but they are always working together with the main focus on health and safety on the people. Ford says we have to be aware of the impacts moving into Stage 2 can have on local business owners.

"I'm fighting for these small businesses, I understand small businesses, I understand what it takes to meet a payroll and how connected you get with your employees that are relying on you to get a paycheck. I get it, I want to get the economy going, I want to open up these restaurants. It's all about the people, it's all about these restaurant owners and small business owners."

Ford did not indicate when the decision might be announced on Halton and Durham moving back into Stage 2. You can listen to the full remarks from the Premier below: