Ford should pay for and hold in-school COVID-19 testing in hard-hit neighbourhoods: NDP MPPs in GTA

GTA MPPs say places like Brampton, Mississauga, Etobicoke, Black Creek, Weston, York South and Scarborough are being left behind

QUEEN’S PARK — Ontario’s NDP MPPs in the GTA are calling on the Ford government to deploy in-school COVID-19 testing to any school in a neighbourhood with high positivity rates.

That means funding and setting up voluntary testing centres inside schools for students in schools located in hard-hit neighbourhoods in Brampton, Mississauga, Etobicoke, Humber River, Weston, Black Creek and Scarborough.

In Thorncliffe Park Public School in Toronto, asymptomatic staff and students were tested and 19 positive cases found.

“Doug Ford is trying to save a buck by underserving the hardest hit areas,” said NDP Deputy Leader and Brampton Centre MPP Sara Singh. “He has been refusing to send extra help to hot spots, because he wants to do things on the cheap. That’s resulting in longer, deeper lockdowns and more devastating illness. We need help to end this nightmare, and stop the virus from hurting our loved ones.”
Singh said the province must commit to paying for and staffing the testing programs, providing a safe place to isolate for any families that test positive, and providing paid sick days for everyone.
Doly Begum, NDP MPP for Scarborough Southwest

“Schools like Glamorgan or Lester B. Pearson CI in Scarborough, beyond my riding of Scarborough Southwest, have experienced large outbreaks, putting students, teachers, and families into immense danger and uncertainty. Many neighbourhoods in my riding, such as Scarborough Village, have seen positivity rates ranging from 11 to 15 per cent over the past week. This is unacceptable — we need more testing, more contact tracers, more resources. We can’t let the Ford government continue to turn his back on the people of Scarborough."

Faisal Hassan, MPP for York South-Weston

“York South—Weston has been identified since the early days of COVID-19 as a high-risk community and hot spot. We waited until the end of September for our first testing facility. We have had two schools close last week due to high COVID-19 cases.

Now, three months after school started and less than three weeks before the Christmas break, three York South—Weston schools are to get rapid testing. This is welcome, as any assistance is, but it can’t help but be looked at as part of a pattern of this government’s slow responses to a crisis and neglect in our community. We need all schools in neighbourhoods with high positivity rates to have in-school testing, and it can’t wait.”

Gurratan Singh, NDP MPP for Brampton East
“Brampton East is one the hardest hit ridings for COVID-19, yet Doug Ford continues to neglect to provide adequate resources for our community of largely essential workers. Cases are rising in schools in my riding, including at Castlebrooke Secondary and Castlemore Public School."
Kevin Yarde, MPP for Brampton North

“The Ford government had more than enough time to prepare for the school year. They failed to limit class sizes which has led to increases in cases in schools in my riding. Schools in my riding where students have contracted COVID-19 include Carberry Public School – one confirmed case and one closed classroom; Fernforest Public School –three confirmed cases, one closed classroom; Harold M Brathwaite Secondary School – eight confirmed cases, one closed classroom; Heart Lake Secondary School – four confirmed cases and 5 closed classrooms. All those schools are still open. Parents and students are frustrated.

“Brampton is a hotspot and if we are going to be serious about tackling this pandemic we must ensure that students and teachers are protected.”

Tom Rakocevic, MPP for Humber River-Black Creek

“Neighbourhoods in Northwest Toronto have some of the highest COVID-19 transmission rates. Many live in multi-generational family households in small apartments. Few have the privilege to work from home as most are essential workers, often working for minimum wage. By refusing to invest in the targeted resources necessary to slow down the spread of COVID-19, the Ford government continues to leave our communities behind.”