‘BE PREPARED — THEY’RE COMING,’ WARNS AT ODDS FORD
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com
MUSKOKA — Premier Doug Ford, who took a swipe today at “almost half” the medical officers of health (MOH), said there is “no order — and there won’t be,” telling cottagers to “stay away” from Muskoka May 24.
“Be prepared — they’re coming,” he said in a daily news briefing from Queen’s Park.
“I could be wrong, but I don’t think this will be a massive issue in three weeks.”
He said “the health and well-being of the people of Ontario” are important to him and he doesn’t advise outside travel.
But, he said there aren’t enough “bylaw and police” to enforce any restrictions or travel ban.
All that goes against the official advice of his Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDH) MOH, Charles Gardner.
“We know #COVID19 does not enter a community by itself, it travels with a person, including those who don’t have symptoms. If you have a cottage or trailer, please follow the advice of @ONgov and @GovCanHealth — do not travel out of your community.”
He said he’d like to see a formal order to stay in place for the long weekend.
On April 24 he said he urged the province to do just that.
He said: “We have had 33 people come into our area (Simcoe-Muskoka) and be tested and then go back to their home elsewhere” to self-isolate.
The SMDHU even posted a social media graphic urging seasonal residents to “Avoid going to your cottage.”
“Protect yourself and others,” it said with the hashtag #stayhome.
It’s been a hot topic dominating Ford’s afternoon updates yesterday and today.
Social media and the mainstream media — TV and radio — can’t get enough of the Muskoka madness.
TVO’s Steve Paikin devoted half his nightly broadcast on The Agenda to the story last night, Monday May 4.
He tried to pin down a waffling Muskoka Lakes Township Mayor Phil Harding.
His worship — who is yet to meet a camera or social media site he doesn’t like (save for Muskoka Post) — said he feels torn in admitting 80 per cent of his taxpayers or voters are seasonal residents.
Terry Rees, president of the Federation of Ontario Cottage Associations, told Paikin his group has advised cottagers to pay heed to health guidelines to stay home.
Kim Krech, of Temagami Marine, agrees, saying “they are coming.”
She said her private marina, which now allowed to open, is putting boats in the water. And he is not letting boat owners board for a few more weeks until she gets the go-ahead from the province or health officials.
But she said some cottagers on islands are determined to canoe to the cottage, which worried Krech who said “what happens if there is an emergency” and they have to get back to shore?
Ford was critical of many of the 34 medical officers of health, shifting blame on them for the dearth of COVID-19 testing.
It’s a criticism his government has also faced.
Ford plans to meet with local mayors tomorrow or the day after for a “heart-to-heart” chat.
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