TORONTO — Ontario Premier Doug Ford issued an emotional apology Thursday for introducing COVID-19 restrictions that sparked furious backlash as he confirmed his government would bring in paid sick-leave for workers after months of refusing to do so.
Ford said he was sorry for increasing police enforcement powers and closing playgrounds last Friday – measures that were rolled back amid an onslaught of criticism – and said his government got it wrong.
"I will always try to do what's right," Ford said, choking back tears. "If we get something wrong, we'll fix it."
The premier acknowledged his government's recent moves had angered many but maintained he still had the authority to lead the province. He deflected criticism that the impact of the third wave could have been lessened with stronger policy responses, saying he could have done more with greater vaccine supply.
The government announced last week's restrictions amid soaring COVID-19 cases and an alarming rise in people in hospital and intensive care. Critics were especially incensed at the government handing police the power to stop people at random to ask why they were out during the province's stay-at-home order.
Ford said the measures had been brought in too fast in response to dire COVID-19 projections.
"We moved too quick; if I make a mistake, I correct it immediately," Ford said. "I'm sorry and I apologize to each and everyone of you."
The premier confirmed that his government was working on a sick-leave program to support workers, although he did not provide a timeline or any further specifics.
Critics slammed Ford for failing to make commitments to immediately implement sick leave and noted he also didn't move to follow other recommendations from experts, like closing all non-essential workplaces.
NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said Ford's inaction earlier in the pandemic set people up for the devastating third wave and he failed to make firm promises Thursday to improve the situation.
"How much longer are Ontarians going to have to wait for their premier to do the right thing, base his decisions on public health and science, and save lives and stop the spread of this virus," Horwath said.
Green party Leader Mike Schreiner said the premier's apology fell short.
"The people of Ontario need more than an apology,” he said. "They need action that follows the science. That's what's driving the frustration and anger."
The union representing public employees said the sick leave announcement lacked action.
"It's time for far more than assurance that he'll work on something," said Fred Hahn, president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees Ontario.
The CEO of the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario expressed frustration with Ford's apology, saying he should delegate the entire pandemic file to Health Minister Christine Elliott.
"The time for emotional pleas from the premier is over," said Doris Grinspun. "I hope that the Minister of Health will understand better the situation and act quickly."
Public health experts, opposition politicians, labour groups and local officials have been calling for sick-leave support for much of the pandemic, arguing it would reduce COVID-19 spread in workplaces.
Ford had steadfastly refused to implement such a program, pointing to an existing federal benefit, but his government indicated this week that it would finally change course.
His ministers said a provincial policy would fill "gaps'' in the federal benefit, including reducing wait times for funds, expanding eligibility, and providing time off to get vaccinated.
Ontario reported 3,682 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday and 806 people in intensive care. It also reported 40 more deaths from the virus.
The province's top doctor said the province appears to be at a "very precarious transition time" as several pandemic indicators, including the seven-day average in new daily cases and the virus's reproductive number, decreased slightly compared with last week.
"Are we at a plateau? Some things are plateauing, some things are dipping down a bit," Dr. David Williams said.
Dr. Dirk Huyer, Ontario's co-ordinator of the provincial outbreak response, highlighted what he deemed a "new, unfortunate and sad" development – people dying from COVID-19 at home, without being hospitalized.
He said there have been an average of two such deaths per day over the last two weeks, "in excess anything that we saw during wave one and over wave two."
Meanwhile, the province issued two new emergency orders Thursday that will help bring more health-care workers to overburdened hospitals.
One order allows workers to provide patient care outside their regular scope of practice, consistent with duties assigned by a hospital. The other allows out-of-province health care workers to practice in an Ontario hospital without registering with regulatory colleges in the province.
The government said the orders will allow staff from Ontario health facilities to be redeployed to hospitals and will also pave the way for out-of-province health workers to practice here.
Ontario said it had received tentative offers of health-worker support from Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia.
- with files from Shawn Jeffords and Paola Loriggio.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 22, 2021.
Holly McKenzie-Sutter and Colin Perkel, The Canadian Press
