QUEEN’S PARK — Today, Ontario’s Minister of Long-term care Merilee Fullerton stated: “We’ve seen the lack of interest in COVID-19 from the Opposition when it first began.”
Yet, when the Official Opposition New Democrats repeatedly asked about COVID-19 readiness throughout February and March, Fullerton indicated that the NDP was raising the issue too often. “I’m a little disappointed that the NDP is trying to play politics,” she said on March 3. http://hansardindex.ontla.on.ca/hansardespeaker/42-1/l150-4_19.html
Here’s a little bit of what really happened:
Feb. 5: “NDP urges pause to public health funding cuts as Ontario deals with coronavirus”
Feb. 27: NDP raises COVID-19 preparedness and funding:
http://hansardindex.ontla.on.ca/hansardeissue/42-1/l148.htm
March 3: NDP asks about sick days and COVID-19:
https://twitter.com/AndreaHorwath/status/1234992716791963648?s=20
March 9: NDP calls for a pause public health cuts due to COVID-19:
http://hansardindex.ontla.on.ca/hansardespeaker/42-1/l153-3_5.html
March 10: NDP asks about the government’s preparedness to respond to COVID-19:
http://hansardindex.ontla.on.ca/hansardespeaker/42-1/l154-4_9.html
March 10: NDP asks if Ontario can handle hospital pressures from COVID-19:
http://hansardindex.ontla.on.ca/hansardespeaker/42-1/l154-4_22.html
March 11: Andrea Horwath and opposition leaders meet with premier on COVID-19 at Horwath’s request:
http://hansardindex.ontla.on.ca/hansardespeaker/42-1/l155-4_15.html
March 11: Andrea Horwath asks what government’s hospital contingency plans are in response to COVID-19:
http://hansardindex.ontla.on.ca/hansardespeaker/42-1/l155-4_15.html
“This government’s habit of making stuff up and twisting the facts is exactly why we need an independent public inquiry, and not a government-controlled commission investigating long-term care,” said NDP Long Term Care Critic Teresa Armstrong.