I really enjoy watching sports.\u00a0 I love taking in Leaf or Blue Jays games as often as I can.\u00a0 Spending so much time in Toronto, people often assume that I take in a good number.\u00a0 Well, I wish that were true. \u00a0Quite simply, it is just hard to plan ahead so far because invariably something always comes up so I end up working most evenings too.\u00a0 But, that\u2019s what I signed up for.<\/p>\n
I love hockey to be sure, but baseball has some unique traits that really appeal to me.\u00a0 For one thing, I love the slower pace of baseball because really lends itself to storytelling, not only between innings but, between batters and plays.\u00a0 Readers of this column know I do love a good story.<\/p>\n
When you watch baseball, the crowd of course cheers when a player crosses the plate to score a run.\u00a0 But when someone hits a homer, that\u2019s when the crowd goes nuts.\u00a0 And when there is a grand slam\u2026 well, it brings the house down.\u00a0 The point is that ball fans want to see a player make it all the way.\u00a0 They want their hometown heroes consistently swinging for the bleachers.\u00a0 They want to see their guy going all the way.\u00a0 Jay fans loved their homerun kings such as #25 Carlos Delgado, #10 Edwin Encaranaci\u00f3n and, of course, #19 Jos\u00e9 Bautista.<\/p>\n
Recently in an NDP caucus meeting, we were discussing the government\u2019s approach to rein in the ongoing pandemic, especially given the added challenges presented by the powerful delta variant.\u00a0 I echo the views expressed by many public health and medical officials that the Ford government has been choking up too much on the bat in their efforts to thwart COVID-19.\u00a0 Despite months of pressure and pushing the government, it seems that they just don\u2019t want to make strides using aggressive squeeze-play tactics which would bring the pandemic to its knees.<\/p>\n
If I were to assign jersey numbers and Doug Ford was joining the team, I can tell you for sure that he would not get #25, #10 or #19. \u00a0I say this because it seems since day one, Doug Ford has not demonstrated a true commitment to hitting a home run, or even winning for that matter, but rather has chosen to implement a game plan full of half measures. \u00a0Whether Ford and his backroom buddies know it or not, as a result of his half measures, the COVID-19 virus is mounting for a fourth wave assault on Ontarians.\u00a0 But unlike baseball, <\/em>this is not a game.\u00a0 It\u2019s real life\u2026 and death.<\/p>\n Ontarians are especially concerned with the Ford government\u2019s approach to preparing for our students to resume their education.\u00a0 Back in June, Andrea Horwath and the NDP were trying to get the message across to Ford that the previous school year had been a debacle for our students and teachers as they had to muddle their way through lockdowns, online learning and school closures.\u00a0 Ontario students missed more school days than any other province.\u00a0 Educators, parents, public health officials, the NDP and others have worked hard throughout the pandemic to encourage the government to reconsider and improve decisions.\u00a0 Beginning in June, the Ford government was called upon to formulate well-developed and fully funded plans to ensure our students have a better school year this fall.\u00a0 But Ford chose to ignore the signs, choking up on the bat and trying to just bunt despite the fact it is late in the game and Ontarians need a homerun.\u00a0 He chose to leave decisions to be made late in the summer, thus cutting off input from the public and stakeholders. \u00a0His swings are only coming half way around.<\/p>\n For example, the Ontario Nurses Association<\/em> strongly urged Ford to take immediate action and fully fund improved ventilation system installations in every school and classroom.\u00a0 Parents, students, teachers and education workers need and deserve an assurance that their classroom is safe.\u00a0 With so many thousands of lives at stake, we can\u2019t just use guesswork and cross our fingers to solve the air safety problem.\u00a0 Even now, at this late date, the NDP is still calling on Doug Ford to test the air quality of each classroom before schools reopen and to post those results online. \u00a0If a classroom isn\u2019t ventilated well enough, we shouldn\u2019t be putting kids in it<\/u><\/em>.\u00a0 And putting in small portable HEPA air filters is not the real answer.\u00a0 Do a job right \u2013 the first time.<\/p>\n NDP Education Critic Marit Stiles suggested that at the very least Ontario could follow in the footsteps of New York City where they have decided to carry out regular inspections of classroom air quality and also supply school staff with devices to test air quality in between inspections.\u00a0 The reports will be posted online.\u00a0 The Ford government’s schools ventilation announcement did not include any<\/u><\/em> air quality testing or public reporting of the results for each classroom, and there are no minimum standards in Ontario\u2019s school re-opening plan.<\/p>\n Ford continues to add fuel to the fire by following through on cutting $800 million from Ontario schools this year.\u00a0 His school reopening plan also does not include reduced class sizes, or mental health supports for students, or paid sick days and family care days for staff and parents.<\/p>\n Ontarians have had enough disruption, turmoil, loss and even death in the last two years.\u00a0 They are fed up with Doug Ford\u2019s long list of half swings which have now led us directly on a path to a fourth wave.\u00a0 The NDP is joining with many thousands of Ontarians who say that a vaccine certificate program is needed.\u00a0 Such a program would cover all non-essential activities \u2014 like gyms, bars and personal services.\u00a0 It would take the guess work out of the equation.<\/p>\n Our small business community is tired and worn down to their socks.\u00a0 They are on pins and needles, having to watch from the dugout for so long during the lockdowns.\u00a0 They have taken it on the chin the whole time with little, delayed or even no support.\u00a0 The majority of Ontarians who have done the right thing and got their shot deserve to dine, shop and play without fear.\u00a0 The business community needs Ford to stop implementing his half measures and show some leadership to create and enforce a fair, safe and effective passport system.\u00a0 The onus should not fall upon the business community and their customers to figure out their own systems.\u00a0 We need a system that is consistent from business to business and community to community. \u00a0Anything less will lead to chaos and abject failure.<\/p>\n Another egregious example of Ford\u2019s half-measures concerns mandatory vaccination of health care workers and educators.\u00a0 Teachers, educational staff, PSWs, nurses and so on work with some of the most vulnerable people in our communities.\u00a0 Our young children are not even able to receive the vaccine until they are 12 years old.\u00a0 Some health care and PSWs are working with the elderly, frail and those who have compromised immune systems as well as some who actually may be infected.\u00a0 The workers, their families, students and patients all deserve to be as protected as possible to prevent the spread of the virus.\u00a0 Initially, Ford adamantly refused to even consider implementing mandatory vaccination for such workers.\u00a0 However, after facing immense backlash from many sides, Ford did agree to a very watered down half-measure of vaccination policy.\u00a0 He agreed that such workers have to be vaccinated\u2026.or\u2026 they can refuse and be subjected to frequent testing and required to take an online tutorial or some form of seminar on why vaccination is the best way to protect everyone.\u00a0 But in the end, Ford\u2019s mandatory vaccination is, again, only a watered down, half measure \u2013 and a dangerous one at that.<\/p>\n Doug Ford\u2019s half measures show he\u2019s catering to anti-vaccine sentiments within his party and supporters.\u00a0 He is more worried about losing their support than he is about the health and welfare of average Ontarians.\u00a0 He still doesn\u2019t want to spend on COVID-fighting measures.\u00a0 Even Ontario\u2019s Financial Accountability Officer says that Ford withheld more than $10 billion last year that was earmarked for pandemic fighting.<\/p>\n It\u2019 late in the game.\u00a0 Ontarians are weary, fed up and fearful for the future of their family, friends and loved ones.\u00a0 People know that they government leader who is going to give a full wheelhouse swing to bring it home and shut out lockdowns for good.<\/p>\n As always, please feel free to contact my office about these issues, or any other provincial 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