Ontario's health minister says masking 'a personal choice,' a day after top doctor urges public to do so
CBC
Ontario's health minister said it's a "personal choice" to wear a mask Tuesday, one day after the province's top doctor urged everyone to do so in all indoor spaces.
A masked Sylvia Jones defended the majority of her Progressive Conservative colleagues who did not wear masks in the legislature — including Premier Doug Ford. Twelve other Tory colleagues wore masks, including the Speaker of the House.
All opposition members wore masks.
"I think what we are seeing is people are making determinations based on their personal circumstances. Personal choice is important here," Jones, who had COVID-19 three weeks ago, told reporters.
Pressed afterwards by reporters about why most of the caucus was unmasked, Jones responded: "I think you have to take into consideration the size of the building, the size of the room."
Moore's recommendation Monday did not make mention of room size.
Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore made the masking recommendation in a bid to ease pressure on children's hospitals, which are at capacity provincewide due to respiratory illnesses and have had to cancel non-urgent surgeries to deal with the surge of young patients in intensive care, emergency departments and pediatric wards.
Pediatric hospitals across the province are at capacity, he said. Those hospitals have had to cancel non-urgent surgeries to deal with the surge of young patients in intensive care, emergency departments and pediatric wards.
Ford said Sunday that Ontarians should wear a mask every time possible.
When asked why he didn't wear a mask, a spokeswoman for Ford said Jones addressed it in her comments to reporters.
During question period Tuesday, interim NDP Leader Peter Tabuns raised the question of why Ford was unmasked at the legislature.
"Why is the premier not taking leadership and wearing a mask to protect our children?" Tabuns asked.
MPP Paul Calandra responded on Ford's behalf saying the NDP has repeatedly voted against the government's proposals on health care, but not answering the question directly.
"We will continue work hard with the Chief Medical Officer of Health to ensure the health and safety of all the people of the province of Ontario regardless of whether the Leader of the Opposition wants to work with us or not," he said.
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