Premier Ford Not Ready to See Borders Open to the States

Wednesday, 13 May 2020 13:50

Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he does not want to see the border open to the US right now. Also parents can expect more details early next week on opening daycare's and a decision on whether or not schools will reopen.

ONTARIO - Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he doesn't want to see the border open to the United States right now.

President Trump has indicated that he would like to see trade resume sooner rather than later. The decision to open the border will come from the Federal Government. Premier Ford says now is not the time to talk about opening the border.

"I want to keep it closed, I made if very clear on the call with the Premiers and the Prime Minister, we need to keep it closed. Now that excludes the trade back and forth, that is still moving back and forth, that is still critical. But I always say, and we love our American neighbours to the south but right now we are going to have to keep our borders closed, especially for visits and that, we just can't risk it. When the time comes, when we get clearance from our Chief Medical Officer and the health table, then we will open our arms and welcome everyone around the world, but not right now, we just can't chance it."

Meanwhile Education Minister Stephen Lecce was asked about opening daycares. He says they understand the importance of opening daycares to get people working.

"We hear families loud and clear, the objective now for the Government, in conjunction with the Minister of Health, working with the COVID-19 command table under the leadership of the Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Williams is to come up with a timeline. We want to provide that certainty, get that out to you, once we have the plan endorsed by the Chief Medical Officer and once that updated modelling can inform our next step. We will get that out in short order, the Premier has been very clear he wants to provide that certainty to parents and the labour market. I want to make clear that all of our determinations for child care, for licensed child care and for schools will be premised on the health safety for our kids and of course our staff."

Lecce also said that parents can expect an absolute outcome on whether or not schools will be allowed to open this year. That announcement should be available early next week.