Ford defends government amid criticism: ‘It has been unprecedented transparency’

Premier Doug Ford is rejecting criticism that his government has not been transparent when it comes to the advice it’s been getting about COVID-19 measures.

This comes on the same day Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Eileen de Villa, announced that Toronto Public Health staff had to sign non-disclosure agreements to participate in discussions held by the provincial health measures table.

“I took the belief right from the beginning of this pandemic and I told our cabinet, our caucus. I said anything that we know, we’re coming out there in a day or the next day; we’re going to be transparent and tell the people,” the premier said.

“Dr. [David] Williams signed off on the last roll out that we had, and along with lowering the thresholds,” Ford maintained. “So on both items, a week before, when we saw the numbers 900 to 1,200, he signed off on it. I’ll take responsibility for everything on this province like I have from Day 1, and I’ll continue doing that.”

On Monday, the Toronto Board of Health unanimously approved a motion calling on the province to publicly release all the advice and recommendations that the Ontario cabinet and chief medical officer of health have received from the provincial COVID-19 advisory tables.

The Ford government has faced criticism in recent weeks after it was reported that thresholds for certain sectors in Ontario’s colour-tiered, COVID-19 framework for restrictions were raised without consultation or advice from health experts.

The premier continues to vehemently deny such claims.

A concerning increase in cases at long-term care facilities

Ford, meantime, is promising to increase COVID-19 testing in the province’s long-term care homes amid a rise in cases at the facilities.

Ford says he is meeting with government staff today to discuss a plan for more frequent surveillance testing, which is conducted even if a person does not have symptoms.

The premier says increased testing must also be combined with quick turnaround times for results.

His comments come after several large outbreaks in Toronto have lead to dozens of nursing home residents contracting the virus.

Modelling released by the province earlier last week showed that mortality rates in long-term care homes have been on the rise in the second wave of the pandemic.

The province says 107 of its 626 long-term care homes are experiencing an outbreak.

It says 716 long-term care residents currently have COVID-19.

With files from the Canadian Press