'No more nonsense': Ontario Liberals call on government to get tough on anti-vaxxers
Ontario’s Liberal Party is calling on the provincial government to make vaccines mandatory for transit passengers, as well as eligible students and employees who interact with customers as the fourth wave of COVID-19 continues to climb.
Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca said the Ontario government should adopt an aggressive approach as it tries to convince the remaining eligible residents to get their first dose of the vaccine while combating “anti-science misinformation” with legislation that would restrict protests.
“No more nonsense. No more exceptions. No more delay,” Del Duca said, suggesting people are losing patience with Premier Doug Ford’s “softness on public safety.”
Del Duca says the government should convene a meeting of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police to deal with “anti-vaccine abuse, harassment and violence” and create an “exclusion zone” around hospitals entrance to ensure protesters don’t prevent staff and patients from accessing healthcare.
The provincial party believes the criminal code should be strengthened in order to combat the anti-vaccine demonstrations and said the Ford government needs to take a similar approach.
“If you choose to go in a different direction in this province and you’re going to break the law and step over that line, there are going to be consequences,” Del Duca said.
At the same time, Del Duca says he can empathize with people from racialized communities who have “understandable angst” and “legitimate hesitation” about the vaccine based on historical circumstances that led to mistrust of government.
Del Duca suggested, however, the government should still take a hardline approach to those who are vaccine resistant by preventing them from boarding provincially-regulated transit systems such as GO trains and busses to protect other vaccinated passengers.
“I am extremely empathetic to those individuals who have legitimate vaccine hesitancy … including people who come from racialized communities,” Del Duca said. “But, on balance, we need to be in a spot where we get through this pandemic and get to the other side.”
The Liberals are also calling on the province to eliminate the testing requirements for health-care and education workers who refuse to get vaccinated, and do not have a medical exemption.
Del Duca also said the vaccine passport system, set to be implemented in Ontario on Sept. 22, should also apply to employees who interact with customers. Workers are currently excluded from the requirements.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
AstraZeneca says it will withdraw COVID-19 vaccine globally as demand dips
AstraZeneca said on Tuesday it had initiated the worldwide withdrawal of its COVID-19 vaccine due to a 'surplus of available updated vaccines' since the pandemic.
Toronto police seek suspect vehicle after security guard shot outside Drake's mansion
Toronto police are seeking help from the public as they continue to investigate a shooting that seriously injured a security guard outside rapper Drake's mansion.
'Ozempic babies': Reports of surprise pregnancies raise new questions about weight loss drugs
Numerous women have shared stories of 'Ozempic babies' on social media. But the joy some experience in discovering pregnancies may come with anxiety about the unknowns.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Seafood, eat food: Calgary Stampede releases Midway menu
The Calgary Stampede has released its menu of sweet, salty and spicy treats available on the Midway for the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.
Boy Scouts of America is rebranding. Here's why they've changed their name
After more than a century, Boy Scouts of America is rebranding as Scouting America, another major shakeup for an organization that once proudly resisted change.
World's record-breaking hot temperature streak stretches through April
The world just experienced its hottest April on record, extending an 11-month streak in which every month set a temperature record, the European Union's climate change monitoring service said on Wednesday.
Most of Canada to receive emergency alert test today
The federal government will test its capacity to issue emergency alerts today, with the exception of Ontario, where the test will take place on May 15.