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'The system HAS failed already': Ontarians demand answers on postponed surgeries as COVID-19 restrictions on businesses lift

'The system HAS failed already': Ontarians demand answers on postponed surgeries as COVID-19 restrictions on businesses lift

Following Ontario Premier Doug Ford's announcement of the province's plan to loosen COVID-19 restrictions, from the end of January until March, several people still had outstanding questions around the continued delays in surgeries.

On Thursday, the Ontario government revealed that on Jan. 31, indoor public settings including restaurants and bars, gyms, retailers (including grocery stores and pharmacies), cinemas and shopping malls, can operate at 50 per cent capacity.

On Feb. 21, the province expects to completely remove capacity limits in these indoor settings.

This announcement was met with some criticism from Ontarians on social media, including health experts, with particular comments related to why there is a plan for businesses reopening but not resuming postponed surgeries in Ontario.

In a statement following the reopening announcement, Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath stated that "we also desperately need non-emergency surgeries to resume."

"For people whose surgery has been cancelled more than once, and for parents, teachers and education workers it’s frustrating not knowing what data this decision is based on, and shocking that there is no plan to help them," the statement reads.

"Doug Ford says it’s the Chief Medical Officer of Health’s call. The Chief Medical Officer of Health says it’s Doug Ford’s call. Who the heck is calling the shots — and are any of their choices based on public health, or are they just based on politics? Ford should be transparent and release the data, and the advice, this decision was based on."