'One minute of silence...Doug Ford is not for the people': Ontario residents split over decision to mark Queen's funeral as 'day of mourning'
The Government of Canada will have a federal holiday on Monday to observe the funeral for Queen Elizabeth II, but Ontarians mostly won’t have the day off.
After Justin Trudeau declared a federal holiday on Sept. 19 to mark the Queen’s funeral, news came shortly that Ontario will not have a provincial holiday on Monday to mark the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.
Instead, Premier Doug Ford said Ontario will mark Sept. 19 — the day of the Queen’s funeral in London — “as a provincial day of mourning in lieu of a provincial holiday.”
“The people of Ontario may observe a moment of silence at 1 p.m. on that day,” Ford said.
Monday, Sept. 19, will mark a “federal holiday” and will apply to federal government employees.
Last year, Ontario also did not observe National Truth and Reconciliation Day, another federal holiday, as a provincial statutory holiday.
Doug Ford’s decision received a mixed reaction from the public—mostly negative.
We can reflect about the September 19 federal holiday for the Queen’s funeral a week and a half later on National Truth and Reconciliation Day.
— Caryma Sa'd - Lawyer + Political Satirist (@CarymaRules) September 13, 2022
Pay close attention to the organizations that will honour the federal holiday and give their staff the day off for a “national day of mourning” yet will force their staff to work on National Truth and Reconciliation day, another federal holiday.
— carrington 🌻 (@carrchristmas) September 13, 2022
@breakfasttv yes it should be a federal holiday. I will be getting up before 6:00am to watch the funeral. This is history and we are lucky enough to be able to witness it.
— Cindy Hamilton (@SinbadCindy) September 14, 2022
Trudeau announces a federal holiday in honour of the Queen, conservative premiers tell you to go fuck yourself, and yet somehow these numpty conservative zealots are blaming Trudeau for not getting Monday off?!#NeverVoteConservative
— Benevolent Dictator (@dailyedict) September 14, 2022
Shocker. No holiday in Ontario on the 19th for the Queen’s funeral. One minute of silence only. Doug Ford and the OPC are not for the people. They’re for corporations, donors and money. #NeverVoteConservative #onpoli https://t.co/DqAQIY2wIf
— Mike Morden (@mmorden) September 13, 2022
This will just be another federal holiday. They get three this month. Truth and Reconciliation should be for the whole country as well as the day for the Queens funeral.
— Melinda (@bryansmom) September 14, 2022
Not surprised. He wouldn't give workers a couple of days of sick leave to stop the spread of a deadly virus. Did you actually think he was going to give anyone time off to mourn?
— ברית / Brit (@BritHemming) September 13, 2022
The province is waiting to see if Ford will give a holiday for the Queen. Let’s not forget that he did not declare Truth & Reconciliation a holiday provincially.
— Laura Walton (@waltonmom) September 13, 2022
everyday in ford’s world is employer rights day
— Evy Kwong (@EVYSTADIUM) September 13, 2022
Doug Ford sucks. We should have elected the bee he swallowed. https://t.co/KKz4gCJChl
— Chris Walder (@WalderSports) September 13, 2022
justin trudeau gave us a holiday on monday but doug ford said no, i hate this man
— H E N N Y (@hennaahmedx) September 13, 2022
Shocker. No holiday in Ontario on the 19th for the Queen’s funeral. One minute of silence only. Doug Ford and the OPC are not for the people. They’re for corporations, donors and money. #NeverVoteConservative #onpoli https://t.co/DqAQIY2wIf
— Mike Morden (@mmorden) September 13, 2022
I’ve been in mourning ever since Doug Ford won with only 18% of the electorate. https://t.co/odWCsRlOzO
— Canadian Resistance 🇨🇦 (@CdnResistance) September 14, 2022
i hope everyone who is outraged by business associations lobbying doug ford to deny a provincial holiday for the queen’s passing bring that same energy to how the same corporations are denying workers meaningful paid sick leave/living wages.
— Andrew Baback Boozary MD (@drandrewb) September 13, 2022