Ontario Premier Doug Ford mocked and praised for acting as 'taxi' and 'snow plow' during massive snow storm
As Ontario is walloped with snow on Monday, Premier Doug Ford decided to drive around the Etobicoke area of Toronto to help people stuck in the snow by giving them a ride.
Premier Doug Ford is driving his vehicle while doing a FaceTime with CP24.
You’d think the Premier would know some of the distracting driving laws… pic.twitter.com/htT3FXYCuE— Kris Pangilinan (@KrisReports) January 17, 2022
"Just making sure people are safe in their cars and anything I can do to help them," Ford told CP24, notably taking the interview, which aired live on TV, while still driving.
A video was also posted on TikTok that shows an individual in the car with the Ontario premier on Monday.
"I'm the taxi driver today, the snow plow, everything else," Ford says in the video, which also resulted in several people on social media pointing out that both the premier and his passenger were not wearing masks in the car.
#BREAKING - Premier Ford is helping dig out stranded motorist across Toronto as seen in this video. pic.twitter.com/lXQ064BRoS
— Richard Southern (@RichardCityNews) January 17, 2022
Up to 40 cm of snow is expected to fall in some of the hardest hit areas on Ontario, with wind gusts between 60 to 80 km/h.
There have been several images posted online of the massive buildup of snow, people trying to move stalled buses and even individuals skiing through the streets.
— vuhvuh (@datEvagirl) January 17, 2022
یکروز نرمال برفی در خیابانهای اصلی تورنتو. #Toronto pic.twitter.com/C9UnllDrRQ
— Shirin Nzft (@Shirinnezafati) January 17, 2022
Nope and nope #ONStorm #snowday pic.twitter.com/b43lk4Q9fD
— Kim Zarzour (@kimzarzour) January 17, 2022
How much snow did we get?
About a standard size golden retriever amount… #ONStorm #HamONT pic.twitter.com/r4G6Tx4a8w— Natty (@nattikinz) January 17, 2022
#ONStorm just a little bit deep downtown! pic.twitter.com/b53mqhUR1S
— leafsbuzz (@hockeyofficial2) January 17, 2022
The Toronto Police Service also temporarily closed all on-ramps to the Don Valley Parkway and Gardiner Expressway to help move vehicles that are stuck and to allow snow ploys to clear the roads.
UPDATE: Eastbound Gardiner is fully open and westbound Gardiner is now open from Jarvis. DVP remains closed. ^CdKhttps://t.co/9pwRMTmuv0
— Toronto Police Operations (@TPSOperations) January 17, 2022
Toronto police have cautioned the public to not travel unless it is absolutely necessary and urged drivers to ensure they have a full tank of gas, take their time on the roads, wear warm clothes and pack emergency supplies.