Ford Hints Plans for Stage 2 Could Come Within the Week

Wednesday, 3 June 2020 13:41

Premier Doug Ford says opening patio's for restaurants and bars could be part of a regional reopening and more information on that will come out within the week. He also commented on the current state surrounding migrant workers.

ONTARIO - Premier Doug Ford says we should have more information about opening up to Stage 2 this week.

Ford says they are working on it right now.

"The State of Emergency is not going to slow us from moving forward and getting the economy going and moving forward with Stage 2. It is in front of the Health table right now, and hopefully over the next week, we will be able to discuss that with the people of Ontario."

Ford was also asked about restaurants being able to open their outdoor patios.

"That is one of the areas we are looking at with the Regional opening. We had a good real good conversation with caucus and cabinet. I know a lot of people in the rural areas want that, that is at the health table right now and they will make those decisions within the week and we will be able to come out to the public and discuss that."

He was also asked about migrant workers and a spike in COVID-19 in some rural areas and if that would change any plans for a regional reopening.

"We have seen a spike with migrant workers and temporary workers and I will tell you what we have done. We immediately acted on it and we had 137 labour inspectors go to the farms to inspect it, we put 34 orders out. We also gave the farmers $2 million dollars to protect their workers. You know something, I love those farmers, they work their backs off, so they are doing everything they can to make sure they have a safe working environment."

Ford says the $2 million dollars that was given to farmers was to purchase PPE's for their workers.

"We are going to continue on with the inspections, we have also asked Ontario health to set up a program to get out to the farms and get these workers tested. It is critical for the safety of the supply chain, the food supply chain as well, so we are all over this and we have the inspectors out there already."