Here are today’s new developments:
- The federal government and the province have a new program to help small businesses adopt digital technologies – for months, the Ford government has resisted the Official Opposition’s calls to give direct financial support to small and medium-sized businesses, many of which have now gone under. The Official Opposition's proposed "Save Main Street" plan includes a 75 per cent commercial rent subsidy, a utility payment freeze and a remote work set-up fund to help businesses establish an online retail operation.
- The Premier’s office confirmed that Doug Ford and Health Minister Elliott have tested negative for COVID-19.
- Starting next week, Ontario will allow visits to loved ones in long-term care, retirement homes, group homes and other congregate living settings not facing an outbreak of COVID-19 to resume. Ontario Official Opposition Leader Andrea Horwath says relaxing restrictions on family visits must come with increased staff, more PPE and sanitation supplies and a guarantee from Doug Ford in rigorous, frequent and in-person inspections for all congregate care and long-term homes
Here are some concerns the Official Opposition is working on, and solutions we’re pushing for:
- The Ford government has quietly made changes to the regulations governing foster care homes that the Ontario Official Opposition says will put children and youth in danger. The changes include allowing more kids in homes and ending criminal record checks for people caring for children. Official Opposition Children and Youth Services critic Monique Taylor and Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation critic Sol Mamakwa say children and youth need more protection during the pandemic, and that Ford must take action to prevent more vulnerable children and youth from contracting COVID-19.
- Ontario NDP's Black Caucus chair and critic, MPP Laura Mae Lindo, said Education Minister Stephen Lecce must stop his dragging his fight on fighting anti-Black racism in the Peel District School Board.
“It’s disturbing that the Minister of Education hired an investigator to investigate his investigation, and despite all these reports pointing to serious systemic anti-Black racism in Peel schools, Stephen Lecce is again taking no actual action to address it," Lindo said in a statement.