Ontario Premier Doug Ford spoke today from Queen's Park, as protestors gathered on the streets of Toronto as part of the ongoing demonstrations sparked by the police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25.
Ford praised Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders, and spoke with admiration of his taking a knee with protestors today.
"We have our own history of racism here in Ontario and it’s been going on for decades," Ford said. "You can go back 60 or 70 years and I know people right now are feeling pain out there. I see it."
When asked about anti-racism, and the criticism the Ford government has received in that regard, he was pressed to say why the province does not currently require each ministry to collect race based health data.
"Well first of all, I'm going to respectfully totally disagree with you," he said.
On the matter, Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier of Ontario and Ontario Minister of Health, who said: "we haven't traditionally collected race based data on health, but there are a number of organizations that have come to us to ask us to do that."
"We are doing that in that it is up to local public health units to collect that information of course with the consent of the person they are speaking with and we are working with the anti-racism directorate to set up a broader framework in order to be able to collect that in a meaningful way and of course to protect people's privacy and confidentiality," she continued.
Ford noted that the province would need $23 billion for coronavirus recovery, and said again that Ontario needs support in long term care homes. In talks with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the entirety of Canada was offered $14 billion, but Ford said that the offer wouldn't make do.
"$14 billion for all of Canada just won’t cut it," he said.
Ford was asked about those people who are confused as to why they can't get a haircut, though massages and dental appointments are now available to Ontario citizens. A petition has been started by salon owners to question this policy. "That makes sense," Ford said. "I don't disagree with you."
Ontario Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade Victor Fedeli said that Ford would be making an announcement regarding reopening phase 2 next week.
Ford also said that he did not support the new 10-day sick leave policy.
Premier Ford confirms he is against paid sick days, would rather put the money into long term care etc #covid19
— Cynthia Mulligan (@CityCynthia) June 5, 2020
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