Ontario Premier Doug Ford apologized and said his government moved “too fast” in bringing in tougher police measures as he vowed to move on a provincial sick pay program after a year of resistance.
Medical experts, have recommended narrowing the list of those that stay open to “only truly essential indoor workplaces,” to bring cases down. For now, public health units, including Toronto/Peel, are stepping in to close workplaces with outbreaks.
For, who previously called a provincial sick pay “double-dipping,” said his government will be bringing in measures to close the “gaps” in the federal sick pay program, but did not give an exact timeline.
Canada will cut its greenhouse gas emissions by up to 45% by 2030, Prime Minister @JustinTrudeau said today at a virtual Climate Summit hosted by U.S. President @JoeBiden.
The new target is far below goals set by the British government this week (78% by 2035 from 1990 levels), and those of the U.S. (52% by 2030 from 2005 levels) and EU.
Meanwhile, Toronto and Peel Region have issued orders that would close businesses for 10 days when at least 5 confirmed COVID-19 cases have been identified within two weeks that could “reasonably" have been acquired in the workplace.
The change in approach on sick days came as the province's COVID-19 Science Advisory Table issued a rebuke of Ontario’s recently announced pandemic measures.
The group called for closing non-essential workplaces and providing emergency sick pay.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is in isolation after a member of his staff who had been in close contact with him tested positive for COVID-19. The Premier tested negative on Tuesday, but will remain in isolation in Toronto.
A statement from Ivana Yelich, Ford’s director of media relations, said members of the Premier’s office staff who were close contacts of the person who tested positive will also isolate.
“The Premier will continue leading this government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic while in isolation, including briefings with officials and communicating with the public,” Yelich said.
Former Minneapolis policeman Derek Chauvin was found guilty on Tuesday of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter in the deadly arrest of George Floyd.
▪️ In Quebec, where a subsidized system already exists, daycare is $8.35/day.
▪️ In urban centres like Vancouver and Toronto, it can average $40 or more per day.
▪️ Ottawa's goal is a system where the provinces and federal government share the cost 50/50.
▪️ The budget sets aside $30-billion over 5 years, estimating this will cut families' average fees by 50% by 2022.
Peel's top doctor will issue a new order today, directing all businesses with five or more cases of COVID-19 within the past two weeks to close for 10 days.
The measure, known as a Section 22 order, will take effect as early as Friday. It will allow Peel Public Health to close workplaces while investigations are under way into cases and sources of transmission “without risk of continuing spread.”