July 7th, 2020

Ongoing public health emergency requires more accountability, not less: NDP

QUEEN’S PARK – Official Opposition NDP Leader Andrea Horwath issued the following statement regarding the proposed government legislation tabled today:

“We will take the time to review the government’s bill closely. But we are very concerned that the bill may give Premier Doug Ford unlimited power without accountability.

The COVID-19 public health crisis has required the use of extraordinary powers under the Emergency Management Act. By design, these powers are time-limited and subject to checks and balances. The removal of these accountability measures may serve a political interest but do not serve the public interest.

Less accountability and less transparency is exactly the opposite of what Ontarians need from Ford. By giving itself a year or two of extraordinary powers, it sounds like the Ford government is trying to give itself all the power with none of the accountability, debate or reporting requirements.

We have serious concerns about what Ford could use these powers to do.”