Province Will Continue With a Regional Approach for Stage 3

Friday, 26 June 2020 13:40

Premier Doug Ford says we have to be cautious when it comes to reopening and pointed to the US as an example of what can go wrong.

ONTARIO - The Premier of Ontario says things are starting to look up in the Province of Ontario.

Doug Ford says the numbers are starting to sway in our favour.

"Yesterday we processed over 30,000 tests, resulting in only 111 new cases. We haven't seen case numbers this low since the end of March, so I want to thank our frontline health care workers, the efforts of every Ontarian and our brave men and women from the Canadian Armed Forces."

Ford also said they will continue with a regional approach when it comes to moving towards Phase 3.

"We are going to take a cautious approach, we are going to rely on all the Chief Medical Officers, all 34 of them across the Province. I am sure we will be doing the same staged approach and it's all about making sure we have good communications with all the Chief MEdical Officers and Dr. Williams is doing that and they are doing a great job."

Ford says he can't give an exact time for phase 3 and they will be cautious.

"We won't see the same events that our happening South of the border in the US right now. If, I'm not mistaken the other day they had 36,000 cases in the US in one day, we had 300 cases in all of Canada. I know they are 10 times the size, but if we multiply that 300 by 10, that's 3,000 vs 36,000. So I guess that's what I'm saying that is the comparison, being cautious and everyone following the protocol, which they have and I am just so proud of the people of Ontario."

Ford also announced more support for our seniors today who he says have been hit the hardest during the pandemic.

"No one has been immune from the impacts of this virus, whether it be financial, physical or mental, the challenges we have faced have been unprecedented and our seniors have been hit the hardest by this terrible virus and that is why we acted quickly and decisively to protect them. It was a difficult but necessary decision to ask our seniors to self isolate but it was made to save lives and I believe if we were able to save one life, someone's family member or friend, that was worth everything in the world."

Today Ford announced an additional $4 million for the Seniors Community Grant Program, a significant increase over last year. This funding will help non-profit organizations, local services boards, or Indigenous groups develop programs for seniors that focus on combating social isolation, promoting seniors' safety and well-being, improving financial security and making communities age-friendly.

This year's grants will range from $1,000 to $100,000 and will fund projects that will:

- Help older individuals and couples receive the support they need in their community;
- Ensure seniors are less at risk for neglect, abuse and fraud, and that their rights and dignity are protected?;
- Ensure more older adults are connected and engaged, reducing social isolation;?? and,
- Provide more opportunities for older adults in employment and volunteering, achieving greater financial security and engagement within the community.

You can listen to the Premiers comments about the Regional Reopening and the US below.