Gearing up to bring back Ontario’s economy

By MPP Toby Barrett

To The Haldimand Press

Several weeks ago in this space I solicited input on how best to plan for Ontario’s economic recovery – how best to help normalize our social and economic life by way of consultation, and a thoughtful and common sense way forward, all based on an analysis of the costs, the risks, and the benefits.

 It’s been over three months now since Ontario announced its first case of Wuhan novel coronavirus, later renamed COVID-19, and over three months of me promoting the web portal Ontario.ca/coronavirus, stressing the health and safety of people in Ontario as priority one. This highly contagious disease continues as a danger to all and, in particular, is killing our most vulnerable – our seniors and those with underlying medical conditions.

In this context, my office is also receiving an ongoing groundswell of concern with contradictory pandemic restrictions, and also more importantly, the frustration of people and businesses who can’t get back to work.

Every call and email to my office gives us an opportunity, on behalf of constituents, to lobby government, its various ministries, and the consultation and planning process established through the Ontario Jobs and Recovery Committee.