March 4th, 2021
March 4th, 2021
WINDSOR – NDP MPP Lisa Gretzky (Windsor West) grilled the premier Thursday on why the Ford government has failed to provide asymptomatic testing for schools in Windsor-Essex and is choosing not to invest in the measures that public health experts say are critical to protect students and education workers.
“Two weeks ago, a memo was sent by the Minister of Education to Windsor-Essex school boards outlining asymptomatic testing in our schools. The memo stated that five percent of elementary and secondary schools and two percent of the student population within the Greater Essex County District School Board, would be tested each week beginning Monday February 22,” said Gretzky during question period Thursday at the Ontario legislature.
“Yet here we are two weeks later, without any plan to rollout testing and no testing being done in our Windsor-Essex schools, not a single one. Why hasn't the government prioritized and begun testing in Windsor-Essex schools to ensure that every student and education worker is safe?,” asked Gretzky.
Gretzky reminded MPPs that the Ford government has had a year to properly implement a safe school environment that would protect students and education workers.
“Despite the calls from experts to cap class sizes, and provide testing in schools, time and time again this government chooses to not invest in our children or education workers,” said Gretzky.
“When will the premier and his conservative government stop delaying the public health measures that will ensure the safety of our students, education workers and by extension the entire community in Windsor-Essex and implement broad, asymptomatic testing in schools?”