NDP MPPs Andrea Horwath (Hamilton Centre), Sandy Shaw (Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas), Monique Taylor (Hamilton Mountain), and Paul Miller (Hamilton East—Stoney Creek) released the following statement in response to the Hamilton region being moved into lockdown:
“Our hearts are with all of the families touched by COVID in recent weeks, especially those grieving the loss of a loved one. Tonight we’re also thinking of the workers and businesses being put back into lockdown, and worrying about how they’re going to stay afloat.
It should never have come to this. Our community is once again facing a lockdown because the Doug Ford government has failed to invest in our health and safety. We desperately needed personal support workers and infection prevention and control experts in our nursing homes, paid sick days and family care days so people didn’t have to go to work and school when they’re sick, and so much more investment in testing, tracing and isolating cases.
Doug Ford has been withholding billions of dollars in COVID funding. He doesn’t want to spend the money, so he’s waving a white flag in the fight against the virus, dragging his feet, and just waiting for the vaccine. Our community is facing more devastation and more loss as a result.
We know the vast majority of Hamiltonians will do everything in their power to get this virus under control. Once again we are calling on Doug Ford to make urgent investments in stronger public health protections.”