Reassure, reassure, reassure
Premier Doug Ford tried to reassure the public that schools will be safe for their re-opening, including by touring a school in downtown Toronto.
"We are very ready," the premier said at his daily press availability, although a Newstalk 1010/Blue/MARU poll found that 72 per cent of Ontario parents are concerned there will be a big outbreak that will cause schools to shut down again.
"We're going to get through it," the premier said, praising particular educators that he has met for their can-do spirit and their creativity in preparing a comprehensive plan for students.
Health Minister Christine Elliott acknowledged the anxiety. "I know that parents are concerned," she said. But she appealed for parents to trust in the government's plan. "We have many layers of risk minimization put into this plan," including social distancing, cleaning and personal protective equipment, she said. That said, she added that there are risks. "We can't reduce the risks to zero."
The available ministers were repeatedly asked about collapsed classrooms, wherein when students get pulled from a school, the school loses the funding attached to that pupil, and so they compensate by merging classrooms rather than having larger classrooms.
Education Minister Stephen Lecce said that is just a normal process that happens every year. "The fact is, school boards are working very hard," he said, furthering the theme of reassurance. He added that the final numbers for classroom sizes is expected in the next few days.
Horwath slams government legal response
NDP Leader Andrea Horwath seized on a Globe and Mail report and unloaded on the government for arguments it is presenting in court to limit itself from financial liability when it comes to deaths in long-term care homes.
The Globe first reported that the government is defending itself from a proposed class action lawsuit by saying that it does not guarantee the health or safety of residents in long-term care homes although it regulates, licenses and inspects the homes in the province. Furthermore, the government contended that nobody in the lawsuit suffered "any loss or damages," although 1,848 long-term care home residents died.
Horwath called the government arguments "incredible" and "shocking."
"Mr. Ford, this is not taking responsibility for what happened. It is absolutely shameful," she said in an afternoon press conference.
She added that the legal claim that the plaintiffs have not experienced loss or suffering lacks compassion and fails to recognize what families have been through. "Their anguish is real....they have suffered, they have absolutely suffered, and to suggest anything else is cruel."
The bubble won't burst
Elliott was also asked about the possibility of changing how social circles, or bubbles, work, given that the resumption of in-person schooling will burst the limits of 10 that the government has imposed.
"We may take a look at it," Elliott responded, but she indicated it's not a top priority. She added by way of context that with the fall coming and the accompanying flu season it's important to stay vigilant at this time.
That could suggest that the government is reticent to expanding social circles, despite the fact that the school numbers will significantly change them for many people in the province. "We are going to keep things at the level it is right now," she said, although not ruling out that it could change.
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