Premier Doug Ford says the NDP plan to move regional hotspots into a modified Stage 1 doesn't take into account people's mental health. "It's easy for people to say just shut everything down, when they are guaranteed a pay check every single week."
ONTARIO - Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he wants to avoid another complete shut down at all costs.
Ford was responding to a question about a recent proposal from the NDP leader Andrea Horvath. Horvath is calling for hot spot regions to move into a modified Stage 1 for two weeks. Her plan would shut down all non essential businesses with the following exceptions:
- Schools should stay open, capped at 15 per class
- Restaurants and bars should be open for takeout and delivery, and given provincial funding to support them through the circuit breaker period
- Small businesses that are non-essential should be given funding to support them through the circuit breaker period
Hospitals should continue scheduled surgeries as long as it’s safe – the NDP believes this circuit breaker could prevent surgeries and diagnostics from being cancelled, as they were in the first wave.
Ford says his Government is taking a more balanced approach and Horvath's plan doesn't take into account mental health.
"How can you measure depression, the mental health of businesses, the owners when all of a sudden they go belly up. They put everything they have in their lives into their small business, be it a restaurant or a gym or any small business and you just want to shut them down."
Ford says the easy thing to do is to shut down the whole Province.
"It's easy for people to say just shut everything down, when they are guaranteed a pay check every single week."
You can listen to Ford's comments regarding lockdowns below:

Province Funding Oxford County Paramedics
Interview with a City Councillor - September 14th, 2026
PJHL Recap - Sept 11th and Sept 12th
Navy Vets Recap - Sept 11th and Sept 12th
Hike for Hospice Returns this Saturday
Two Road Construction Projects Start This Week
SWPH Reporting First Human Case of West Nile Virus
Crash Investigation on Airport Road
One Dead in Perth County Crash
Ingersoll Candidate Profile - Matthew Chambers
Two Arrested Following Brant Break-and-Enter Investigation
Woodstock Remembers 9/11
Terry Fox Run Returns to Woodstock
Navy Vets Announce Leadership Group
Woodstock Changes Parking Regulations
WPS Investigating Swatting Incident
Interview with the Warden - September 10th, 2026
Fatal Collision Forces Road Closure in East Zorra-Tavistock
Delhi Driver Charged in Malahide Township
Witaar Releases Numbers for August
Comments
Add a comment