FORD: Economic growth will fuel Ontario's path to recovery, not tax hikes or spending cuts
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There are decisions over the last 18 months that I never thought I would have to make. I know there are things that you, the people of Ontario, never thought you would ever have to experience.
I certainly never imagined I would be premier during a global pandemic. I never anticipated the lockdowns, restrictions, and strain that Ontarians would have to endure. Yet through so much sacrifice, and your unrelenting strength, we’ve made it through these last two years, and are now looking to emerge on the other side.
I know at times Ontario’s approach has seemed overly cautious to some. But the latest evidence tells us beyond a shadow of a doubt that our approach is working. Hospital and intensive care admissions are stable, and Ontario has one of the lowest rates of active cases in the entire country.
Over the past several weeks, we have trended toward the best-case scenario projected by Ontario’s COVID-19 Science Advisory Table. The latest modelling confirms Ontario has flattened the fourth wave of this pandemic.
That doesn’t mean our fight against COVID-19 is over. What it means is that Ontarians have risen to the occasion and beaten back the worst of the Delta-driven fourth wave.
It’s because of you, the people, that our province is in the position it’s in today. You have continued wearing masks, sacrificed seeing loves ones, postponed celebrating special occasions, and rolled up your sleeves to get a COVID-19 vaccine.
I know some of you continue to have questions about getting your shot. That’s okay. But what’s so encouraging is that every single day we continue to see thousands more Ontarians getting their first shot. In fact, more than 86% of all eligible Ontarians have received at least one dose with over 81% now fully vaccinated.
With more and more Ontarians stepping up to get vaccinated, we can begin to turn our attention to the future. We were elected on a promise of ending hallway health care and rebuilding a long-neglected long-term care system. And while that work had begun before COVID-19, the pandemic exposed and exasperated the cracks that had been building after decades of inaction by successive governments.
To that end, our government has invested billions of dollars to add over 3,100 hospital beds, as well as build and redevelop hospitals across the province. And we’re making good on our commitment to build 30,000 new and modern long-term care home beds over 10 years, as thousands more are brought up to 21st-century standards.
We are also adding 27,000 more frontline workers to long-term care homes as we meet our commitment to improve the quality of care seniors receive so that they can live and age with dignity.
As I’ve said throughout this pandemic, we will never hesitate to spend what’s required to get families and businesses through this crisis. This commitment, however, has meant an unprecedented level of spending that has created economic and fiscal challenges.
Ontarians can rest assured, our path to recovery will be fueled by economic growth rather than painful tax hikes or spending cuts. As soon as this pandemic is firmly behind us, we are going to get our economy firing on all cylinders. Ontario will be the best place in Canada to start a business, work and raise a family.
My friends, we’ve come a long way since that day in January 2020 when the first case of COVID-19 in Canada was discovered right here in Ontario. At that time, we never could have predicted the weeks and months that would follow and the lessons we have learned along the way.
While we don’t yet know what lies ahead, I know we can overcome whatever is thrown our way because if this pandemic has taught me anything, it’s that the Ontario spirit is strong and the people are resilient.
— Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario
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