Doug Ford: US Response to COVID-19 is Reckless

mentalfloss

mentalfloss

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Even a broken clock can somethin somethin..


Premier calls U.S. COVID-19 response 'reckless' as Ontario prepares for possible second wave

TORONTO -- Premier Doug Ford said that Ontario is so much “better prepared” for a potential second wave of COVID-19 as he once again compared his government’s novel coronavirus response to the “reckless” approach south of the border.

“It's been reckless down there, that's the only way I can describe it, they’ve been reckless, they've moved forward too quickly,” Ford said, speaking at a news conference on Tuesday afternoon. “I'll always listen to health and science over getting pressure from anyone.”

The comments come as Ford was discussing a possible second wave of COVID-19 in Ontario, which he says his health team is looking in to, with plans to release a strategy on the issue “shortly.”

https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/premier-...o-prepares-for-possible-second-wave-1.5023218
 
Twin_Moose

Twin_Moose

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City faces dire times without help to pay $1.9B COVID tab: Tory

The city’s tab for dealing with COVID-19 will soar to nearly $2 billion by the end of the year, according to budget figures released Tuesday.

A budget variance report predicts the city will find itself in a $1.9-billion budget hole without help from senior levels of government.

“As the report notes, to generate $1.9 billion in revenue, a 60% residential tax increase would be required,” cautioned Mayor John Tory. “It’s obvious from the struggles that people are having already, young and old, this would not be a proper solution to this problem.”

The shortfall, Tory said, represents about 12% of the city’s 2020 operating budget.

The civic leader warned of dire consequences if the city, which isn’t allowed to run deficits, is forced to go it alone in their pandemic recovery: Shutting subway lines, property tax hikes and deeply slashed budgets for Toronto Fire, EMS, Toronto Police, child care and community services.

“These projections are our best estimates,” added Tory, who described the bad financial news as a “substantial update” to the toll the virus is wreaking on city coffers.

“They assume that our current path of recovery and restart continues, but our financial shortfall could be even bigger if we end up being hit, which we all hope we’re not, by a second wave.”

The report will come before the city’s executive committee next week.

In May, Tory said the pandemic would cost the city $65-million per week , describing then a $1.5-billion impact as the “best-case scenario.”

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Toronto shifts COVID-19 message from 'stay home' to 'stay apart'
COVID-19 costing City of Toronto $65M weekly
Toronto mayor glad the GTA is sitting out Stage 3 reopening
That same week, the TTC put pandemic-related losses at $94-million a month.

It’s this loss of TTC revenue, Tory said, that’s driving this $1.9-billion shortfall.

“Ridership losses peaked at 86% below budget in the month of April, and are currently projected to be 80% below budget through the summer,” he said.

These losses were offset somewhat by cost containment and service reductions, Tory said.

Lost municipal land transfer tax revenue — prompted by a pause in real estate sales — is estimated at $249 million.

Toronto’s $13.6-billion 2020 budget, which was approved by Toronto council before the pandemic, was counting on an expected $800 million in revenue — about 7% of the city’s operating funding.

That budget already included a $77-million hole that federal refugee housing funding was expected to fill.

Increased costs in rehousing the city’s homeless and supporting the shelter system is expected to cost $185 million by year’s end.

Long-term care is expected to cost an additional $17.6 million for the year, and $9.4 million in lost court services revenue.
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How will Ford deal with this?
 
H

Hoid

Hall of Fame Member
Oct 15, 2017
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I agree with Ford here, but I don't think Ontario has any right to criticize anyone else.

Imagine running a healthcare system that requires the military to assist it in times of crisis.

Ontario and Quebec put a huge stain on the rest of Canada to make up the shortfall they are both guilty of creating in order to run their fiefdoms.

Take care of your sick and elderly!
 
H

Hoid

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Oct 15, 2017
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He made massive healthcare cuts with more coming online in order to pay for his Toronto subway system.

I believe the dream of becoming mayor of Toronto.may be over.
 
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Jinentonix

Jinentonix

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Hoid said:
I agree with Ford here, but I don't think Ontario has any right to criticize anyone else.

Imagine running a healthcare system that requires the military to assist it in times of crisis.
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Imagine trying to run a health care system that was gutted by 15 years of Liberal incompetence and corruption.
 
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