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Doug Ford's mother-in-law diagnosed with COVID-19 at long-term care home

Bryan Meler
·Editor, Yahoo Canada
Updated ·4 min read

Doug Ford’s mother-in-law has been diagnosed with COVID-19, Yahoo Canada has learned with confirmation from the Premier’s Office.

The Toronto Star originally reported the news Thursday afternoon, following the premier’s daily COVID-19 press briefing.

For weeks, Ford has made it well-known that his mother-in-law is a resident of West Park Long-Term Care in Toronto. It helps explain why he got choked up at his daily press briefing, while discussing the current COVID-19 situation at long-term care facilities.

“When I see the front page of the Toronto Sun and you see a loved one with their elderly parent and they put their hand up against the window that’s heartbreaking,” said Ford, while holding back tears. “I relate to it in our own family … with my wife Karla.”

Last week, Ford mentioned that his wife Karla has been standing outside the West Park Healthcare Centre, singing to her 95-year-old mother. It’s a situation that thousands of Ontarians can relate to, says the premier.

"Our family is going through it, along with 70,000 other families that have a loved one in these homes and it’s very difficult,” said Ford.

For weeks, long-term care homes around the country have not been allowing visitors, in order to limit the spread of COVID-19. As the death toll continues to rise, the premier has formally requested the help of health officials and the Canadian Armed Forces in long-term care homes.

“I recognize that the system is broken and we’re going to fix the system" - Premier Doug Ford

West Park Long-Term Care has reported at least 12 deaths, along with infections among 35 residents and 29 staff members.

According to the Ministry of Long-term Care, there are 626 long-term care homes in Ontario, amounting to over 70,000 residents. As of 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, there are 132 long-term care homes with COVID-19 outbreaks, with infections among 2,189 residents and 1,058 staff members.

COVID-19 has accounted for 516 deaths among those Ontario long-term care home residents.

“It affects everyone. Everyone has grandparents or friends or a family member somewhere in long term care," said Ford, weeks earlier. "It breaks my heart watching Karla standing outside the window in tears."

Politicians from various parties took to Twitter to share their condolences with Ford, as his mother-in-law fights the deadly respiratory disease: