Opposition parties denounce Ford government proposal to shut down legislature amid COVID-19 crisis

Thestar.ca
April 19, 2021

Mired in an ongoing crisis, Premier Doug Ford’s government denied it is moving to shut down the legislature at Queen’s Park this week as critics and experts call for strengthened protections from COVID-19.

On Sunday, the Opposition NDP sent a news release saying it had been notified of a government proposal to close up shop as of Wednesday, ending the ability to pass new laws, including support for workers.

In the statement, NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said her MPPs will “refuse to co-operate” until the Ford government fully rescinds controversial new policing powers and provides paid sick days for essential workers while shutting down all non-essential workplaces.

“I think it’s shocking that Doug Ford decided to bring a police state to Ontario and then shut down the legislature,” Horwath said in an interview Sunday.

“It’s frightening. It’s chilling, actually, that they would think that’s the right way to address COVID-19.”

She was joined by leaders of the Liberal and Green parties in saying the legislature should remain in session.

“By closing the legislature, Doug Ford is hiding from the outrage he caused with his reckless actions and anti-science agenda,” said Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca in a statement. “He has tied the opposition’s hands behind our backs and is attempting to force through a closure, in the same week Ontario Liberal MPP Michael Coteau’s bill on paid sick leave was set to be debated.”

An email from the office of Ontario government house leader Paul Calandra on Sunday blamed the NDP and other opposition parties for the proposed Queen’s Park shutdown and accused them of grandstanding, saying they had called for a way to hold a virtual parliament --something Horwath’s office said was not a new request and didn’t imply stopping government business.

“After looking into the opposition proposal, it was found that a virtual parliament would not result in any significant reduction in the number of legislative assembly staff required when the house is in session,” the statement said.

“In the spirit of the opposition requests, the government presented options to adjourn the legislature to keep those who support elected officials safe. As is typical, the NDP have used this as an opportunity to score the cheapest of political points in the midst of a pandemic.”

In a later email, Calandra’s office claimed the government had no “immediate plans” to adjourn the legislature, and called the Star’s story “misleading.”

Horwath’s office said government officials suggested nothing was amiss at a regular meeting with opposition leaders on Thursday. But on Friday, the opposition was called to an emergency meeting to discuss a potential shutdown.

An email sent Friday night by the office of government house leader to the opposition parties and seen by the Star suggested a fast-track timetable to speed through business and wrap up Wednesday.

Horwath said that Calandra is “not being honest” and that the opposition has made several requests to work on finding virtual options, but not to shut down government business.

She said they have already worked to reduce the number of MPPs, operate in cohorts and implement double masking, and are eager to find a way to keep provincial democracy going.

Meanwhile, in a video posted to social media on Sunday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his government will deploy federal health-care workers to Ontario, specifically the GTA, and that other provinces and territories are also willing to help.

“To the health-care workers who are relentlessly fighting this virus, thank you. I know you’re exhausted and that hasn’t stopped you from working harder than ever before,” Trudeau said in the video, which made no mention of Ford. “We all need to get you more support in critical areas. Know that we’re doing whatever we can to help.”

Trudeau said Ottawa will also boost rapid testing for hot spots in Ontario, especially for essential workers.

And he repeated his offer to deploy the Canadian Red Cross to help with vaccinations, an offer that was rejected by Ford last week.

In a news conference later on Sunday, federal ministers danced around questions about the relationship with Ford’s government, saying they continue to offer help to Ontario. Federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu had been in contact with her provincial counterpart, Christine Elliott, as recently as Saturday, they said.

“This really isn’t about the relationship between different orders of government; it’s about the people of Ontario,” Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said.

Hajdu said Ontario has the choice to lower the eligibility age for the AstraZeneca vaccine to those 18 and over, per Health Canada advice, in order to speed the vaccine rollout. A federal immunization task force had recommended the AstraZeneca shot be restricted to those age 55 and above, after reports of very rare blood clots.

“There’s nothing to stop the province of Ontario from changing their advice for use to their physicians within Ontario,” she said.

Late Sunday, Ontario announced anyone 40 or older would be eligible for the AstraZeneca vaccine starting Tuesday.

Health Minister Christine Elliott’s office said Ontario is grateful for the support of the federal government, but there was no immediate word on whether the province would accept the latest offer of help with personnel.

In a letter to Trudeau on Sunday, federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh called on Ottawa to declare a public welfare emergency under the Emergencies Act.

“Such a declaration, applied to Ontario, could help ensure a more co-ordinated delivery of vaccines to those who need them most, as well as enabling workers to prevent the spread by taking paid sick days and time off to get vaccinated,” Singh said in his letter. “We have spoken many times of the need to make changes to the federal sickness benefit to make it more accessible, more flexible and to offer full pay. For some workers, this is their only option.”

The Ford government has promised to divert more vaccines to COVID hot spots during an extended stay-at-home order, but has not committed to paid sick days for workers.

After the province’s top scientific and medical advisers laid out startling new projections for rising infections and ICU cases on Friday, Ford announced new restrictions that included shutting outdoor amenities such as playgrounds and allowing police officers to randomly stop anyone outside their home and question them.

But by Saturday, protests from parents, municipal leaders and police chiefs forced the government to reverse course on two major policies: Playgrounds are now permitted to open, but other outdoor activities such as golf courses are not. And police powers were rolled back to require officers to have reason to believe someone is participating in an event or gathering with non-household members.

Still, epidemiology and labour experts say the Ford government has not done enough to protect those most at risk in factories, warehouses and other essential workplaces without paid sick days that allow workers to immediately stay home to be tested, or isolate without missing out on that day’s pay, and instead are criminalizing outdoor activities that public health officials have said are relatively low risk.