An emotional Ontario Premier Doug Ford apologized to Ontarians for missteps over the past week in the province’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, during a virtual media conference from an undisclosed outside location on Thursday (April 22).
Ford, who is currently self-isolating after coming into close contact with a staff member who tested positive for COVID-19, specifically referred to the enforcement measures his government announced last Friday — giving police the authority to randomly stop and question people about why they weren’t staying at home — and withdrew a day later after a widespread outcry.
“These decisions left a lot of people very concerned,” Ford admitted. “In fact, they left a lot of people angry and upset.”
“I know we got it wrong, I know we made a mistake,” he added. “And for that I’m sorry and I sincerely apologize.”
After months of insisting that provincial paid sick days were not necessary and that Ontarians unable to work because of COVID-19 could instead apply for the federal Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit, Ford announced the province is working on a solution for paid sick days.
“It is not lost on me that, unlike many people, I am able to isolate and continue working,” Ford said. “For too many people right now, that’s not the case.”
“For months, my ministers and I have been trying to work with the federal government to fix the existing federal sick pay program,” he added. “Unfortunately, Monday’s federal budget didn’t include the important improvements to the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit that we needed to see. That’s why we’re now working on our solution to fill those gaps for everyone in Ontario.”
Ford then acknowledged the impact the pandemic has had on Ontarians.
“I hear it every day, every single day — people telling me their stories, the stories that make you cry,” Ford said, choking up and pausing to sip water. “Families that haven’t been able to hold the hand of their mom or dad as they passed away because of COVID-19 restrictions in hospitals.”
At this point, the virtual media briefing stopped for several minutes for apparent technical issues.
When the briefing resumed, Ford took several pointed questions from reporters, including one questioning Ford’s leadership on the pandemic and one asking him whether he still had the moral authority to lead the province given the mistakes that have been made.
In response to another reporter’s question asking about the paid sick day program, Ford did not provide any specific details or a timeline, but he promised “we will have the best program anywhere in North America, bar none.”
